Paul Bentley

Paul is the Inaugural Chief Executive of the NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board and is committed to secure the very best care and healthcare and to provide more effective long term well being for the population of Kent and Medway. Paul is the accounting officer for the Board with an annual budget of £4.3bn.

Named as one of the top 50 NHS chief executives in the country by the Health Service Journal in 2021, Paul was previously the Chief Executive of Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust from March 2016 to January 2022, which he led to being rated outstanding by the CQC in 2019; he also led the trust throughout the global pandemic when KCHFT was the major partner in the Covid Vaccination Programme.

Paul’s NHS career started in 1987, working in London teaching hospitals before being appointed to his first main board role in 1998; he carried out his post graduate studies in the USA. Prior to joining KCHFT, Paul was Director of Workforce and Communications at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

Paul is married with 3 adult children and is a keen runner, having completed various half marathons.