AN ORTHOPAEDIC hospital has opened a new suite for private patients.

The Horder Centre in Crowborough now has an eight-bed Ashdown Suite named because of the hospital’s location next to the Ashdown Forest.

It is situated in a quiet area opposite the therapeutic garden and gym that has been specially designed to help patients start exercising after joint replacement surgery.

Chief Executive of Horder Healthcare, Dr Richard Tyler, officially opened the suite.

He said: “This new suite will allow private patients an enhanced experience in beautifully refurbished rooms where they can recover in total comfort.

“The dedicated private patient wing has been refurbished providing patients with an enhanced level of comfort and dedicated care.

“They will have access to a special three-course menu, created in the hospital kitchen, using locally sourced ingredients.”

The Horder Centre, which carries out more than 2,000 joint replacements every year, is part of Horder Healthcare, a charity that puts all of its profit back into healthcare to benefit the community it serves.

Private patients can choose from more than 20 orthopaedic consultants available at the hospital, which has excellent patient outcomes and is rated “outstanding” by the Care Quality Commission.

Horder Healthcare also runs the The McIndoe Centre in East Grinstead, which specialises in plastic and reconstructive surgery.