Hospital secures £6m for new veteran healthcare centre

A dedicated healthcare centre for military veterans is to be built in Shropshire thanks to a £6m grant.

The centre is to go up at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (RJAH), based near Oswestry.

The hospital had initially launched a £1.5m appeal in October 2018 to build “a more modest” outpatient facility for veterans, but is now set to realise a grander vision with the support of the Headley Court Charity.

Headley Court was a military rehabilitation centre near Epsom, Surrey, but closed in 2018 when services moved to a new facility at Stanford Hall near Loughborough.

Air Vice Marshal Anthony J. Stables, chairman of the Headley Court Charity, said: “Trustees are delighted to be able to support the build of the country’s first dedicated Veterans’ Orthopaedic Centre.

“Having determined to close the Headley Court Charity, following the move of defence medical rehabilitation from Headley Court to a new facility at Stanford Hall, we sought to fund projects that both had comparable purpose and honoured the legacy of Headley Court – and the Headley Court Veterans’ Orthopaedic Centre absolutely does that.

“This centre will expand on the fantastic work already provided by the Veterans’ Orthopaedic Service at RJAH and we are delighted that the memory of Headley Court will live on through this new centre.”

The Veterans Orthopaedic Service was initially started in 2014 by Lieutenant Colonel Carl Meyer, a serving army officer who is also a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at RJAH.

He said: “First and foremost, I must thank the Trustees of the Headley Court Charity for their amazingly generous grant and for believing in what we’re doing here at RJAH,” said Lt Col Meyer.

“The build of this centre will provide us with a specialised facility, that provides the bespoke care that our veterans’ need, in an environment that feels familiar to them, where they feel welcome and at ease.

“Veterans and service personnel serve their country, and there are very few professions where going to work places you at risk of dying or being severely injured, and I think that level of commitment and service should absolutely be recognised.

“What I must stress though is that this centre won’t just benefit the military population – but also civilian patients.

“This is a service for patients with a wide range of orthopaedic conditions including hip and knee problems, upper limb issues and spinal injuries. It caters for a wide range of injuries.

“Thanks to our strong connections with Shropshire Council and military charities, the hospital is also providing the whole package, in terms of holistic care, providing support for not just the physical injuries but other issues, such as mental health, homelessness, finance, debt management, welfare, and benefits.”

The two-storey building will feature 10 standard examination rooms. There will also be clinic rooms, which will also be used for physiotherapy appointments.

It will also include a treatment and procedure room, an assessment room and a splinting and therapy room.

Frank Collins, RJAH chairman, said: “Thank you to the Headley Court Charity for their incredible support. The build of this centre is going to make a real difference to our veterans and serving personnel, who deserve the very best care possible.

“I believe we are the right hospital to be providing this service. We are a truly wonderful hospital, with fantastic outcomes, low infection rates and with staff who understand the needs of veterans.”