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Private care at hospital trust boosts investment in NHS services
Every pound earned through Wells Health is reinvested in frontline NHS care.
An often-overlooked success story is improving patient care in our local NHS hospitals. Private services offered by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) are generating vital income that goes straight back into improving care for everyone.
Unlike many private providers, every penny earned through Wells Health, the Trust’s private service, stays within the NHS. This income is reinvested into frontline care – funding new equipment, improving facilities and helping reduce waiting times for patients.
Why this matters:
- Our MTW clinicians already undertake private work externally. By offering these services in-house, we keep their expertise and the income within the NHS.
- Unlike many private hospitals, both Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals have the infrastructure to treat complex patients safely, including access to intensive care units, advanced robotic surgery and multidisciplinary teams.
- Income from private services directly funds NHS improvements, enabling us to grow and develop the care we provide.
In the last financial year (2024/25) Wells Health treated more than 11,000 private patients, generating £6.4million for the Trust.
Dr David Golden, Chief of Service for Wells Health and Consultant Anaesthetist at MTW (pictured right), said: “Our private services are not about profit—they are about reinvestment. By keeping private care within the NHS, we ensure the highest standards of safety and quality while creating resources that benefit everyone.”
These initiatives show how MTW is using private care at Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Fordcombe hospitals to strengthen NHS services, ensuring benefits reach every patient.
Miles Scott, Chief Executive at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust added: “This is NHS excellence generating funds for NHS care. Every pound earned through Wells Health goes straight back into improving services for our patients.”
By reinvesting the money earned Wells Health helps deliver faster, safer and more innovative care for local communities – supporting better care for everyone.