The Europe and Health Programme began in April 2001, based at the University of Kent, with an initial two-year programme of research and development funded by the National Health Service (NHS) Kent Health Authorities.
It was established to provide a European service which would develop understanding, build knowledge and practical expertise about the opportunities for the health and social care sector in Kent & Medway to become involved in European health initiatives, for the benefit of patients, carers and their relatives. The programme of work was also designed to give ‘front-line’ staff within the health and social care sector an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience by collaborating on European health programmes, or through the exchange of good practice with colleagues in other European Countries.
Over the years, the programme of work significantly developed and a decision was taken in late 2005 to transfer out of the University of Kent and mainstream the work into the NHS ‘family’ As part of this mainstreaming exercise, it was agreed that the most fit-for-purpose vehicle for continuing the work of the Health and Europe programme would be a stand-alone Social Enterprise Company (not-for-profit-company/SME) to be called The Health and Europe Centre.
We are based at the Kent & Medway NHS Partnership Trust’s offices in Maidstone, near the Oakwood Hospital.
It was established to provide a European service which would develop understanding, build knowledge and practical expertise about the opportunities for the health and social care sector in Kent & Medway to become involved in European health initiatives, for the benefit of patients, carers and their relatives. The programme of work was also designed to give ‘front-line’ staff within the health and social care sector an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience by collaborating on European health programmes, or through the exchange of good practice with colleagues in other European Countries.
Over the years, the programme of work significantly developed and a decision was taken in late 2005 to transfer out of the University of Kent and mainstream the work into the NHS ‘family’ As part of this mainstreaming exercise, it was agreed that the most fit-for-purpose vehicle for continuing the work of the Health and Europe programme would be a stand-alone Social Enterprise Company (not-for-profit-company/SME) to be called The Health and Europe Centre.
We are based at the Kent & Medway NHS Partnership Trust’s offices in Maidstone, near the Oakwood Hospital.