Tunbridge Wells Hospital can be an important aspect to many people in different ways. In Tunbridge Wells, there are many hospitals around the area, from The Kent and Sussex National Health Service to private hospitals scattered throughout the area of Tunbridge Wells.

Kent and Sussex Hospital

Kent and Sussex, which is a district and general hospital is located at: Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 8AT. If you need to give them a call, they can be contacted on: 01892 526111.

The Kent and Sussex Hospital serves the West Kent and East Sussex area. This hospital is due to close in summer 2011, or at the end of summer, and be relocated to the Pembury hospital which is currently being build, with parts of the hospital in operation.

The current Kent and Sussex provides 281 beds, with many of them being ‘Nightingale’ beds. 

History:

The Tunbridge Wells hospital was build on the site of a mansion, which was called Great Culverden and was designed by a man called Decimus Burton. The hospital was then opened in 1934, with the foundation stone being put down in 1932 by the Dutchess of York, who later became Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. In the past, the building was surrounded by lawns on three sides, however as the days past, the hospital needed to expand. Due to this expansion, the lawns were lost. This extension included the installation of six wartime emergency huts, a little while after the hospital completion. Four of these huts are currently still in use today.

The Kent and Sussex hospital do all of the below as of June 2010:

Accident & Emergency

Breast surgery

Cardiology services

Endocrinology and metabolic medicine services

Ear, nose & throat services

General surgery

Gastroenterology and hepatology services

Neurology services

Orthopaedics services

Podiatry services

Respiratory medicine services

Self harm services

Vascular surgery

When the hospital closes, a planning application has been submitted to the Tunbridge Wells Council for a mixed-use redevelopment of the site, for it to be used as local offices and houses.

Getting to The Hospital:

Bus – The Arriva bus service provide a service to and from the hospital, allowing you easy access for when you have appointment of need to visit the hospital.

Train – The nearest train station to the hospital, is Tunbridge Wells Train Station. You can visit the national rail website for train times. From the station you can then catch the bus to the hospital or get a taxi.

Car – The hospitals address is: Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 8AT. If you need to give them a call, they can be contacted on: 01892 526111.

There are limited car parking spaces; to it is advisable to get to the hospital early if you have an appointment. There is also a charge for using the hospital car park.

Car Parking Charges are as follows:

Up to 1 hour - £1.50
1-2 hours - £2.00
2-3 hours - £3.00
3.5 hours - £4.00
5-24 hours - £6.00

Pembury Hospital

Pembury Hospital can be found at: Tonbridge Road, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 4QJ. If you need to contact the hospital, you can contact them on 01892 823535.

Pembury Hospital is a big hospital situated in Pembury and is run by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. Is is on the North West side of the village on Tonbridge Road. It is a new hospital being built by Laing O’Rouke, with it costing £226 Million. The first phase of the hospital is complete and opened recently, in January 2011. The rest of the hospital is due to open in the summer 2011, when the Kent and Sussex hospital are ready to transfer their services over to Pembury Hospital.

The Pembury Hospital with be the first hospital in Britain, where every inpatient will have their own room with en-suite facilities, with ceiling to floor windows over surrounding woodland, making it more comfortable for patients and their experience at the hospital more relaxed.

The Pembury Hospital aims to replace the Pembury County Hospital as well as the Kent and Sussex Hospital. It will have 512 beds, providing a full range of clinical services, which will included and Accident and Emergency department. The first department transferred to Pembury Hospital was the maternity department, with the first baby being born in January 2011.

The hospital is yet to be named, and rumours are that the NHS would like to call it ‘Royal Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury’, however, this has not been approved yet. There is resistance to change the name of the Hospital, is it is not specifically located in Tunbridge Wells.

Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital

Spire are a local hospital, located at: Fordcombe Road, Fordcombe, Kent and can be contacted on 01892 740047.

Their services are available to everyone, whether you are insured on private healthcare or not. Spire Tunbridge Wells also offer one-off private treatment, with a fixed price agreed at the start.

They specialise in rapid diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and related breast problems You can have access to specialist diagnostic facilities, surgeons, radiologists and breast care nurses. Their doctors are also able to treat skin cancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer and lung cancer.

Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital

Nuffield Health Hospital are located at: Kingswood Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent and can be contacted on 0800 0155020.

They opened in 1968 with funds raised by the local community, establishing themselves as the leading private healthcare provider in the region. The hospital has a reputation for developing high standards based on professionalism and expertise in delivering health services, resulting in high customer satisfaction.  

The facilities are always being updated, with funds being used to develop infrastructure but also pioneering procedures using the latest technological equipment. 

Tunbridge Wells Hospital is a main infrastructure to a community and can be vital to saving lives. With the new development happening, it is bound to benefit Tunbridge Well and the surrounding areas a great deal.