Clinicians at new orthopaedic centre will 'understand military personnel and their unique needs'

The UK’s first dedicated orthopaedic centre for veterans had a 'soft launch' opening at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) in Oswestry, Shropshire, last week.

A ribbon-cutting event was held on 11 November after a Remembrance Day Service took place outside the Headley Court Veterans’ Orthopaedic Centre, which was funded by a £6 million donation from the Headley Court Charity. There will be an official opening ceremony in spring 2023. 

A guard of honour was held at the ‘soft launch’, led by Lieutenant Colonel Carl Meyer, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon, and Rebecca Warren, vaccination service operational manager, alongside RJAH staff representing the NHS professions involved.

For a number of years, we have talked about veterans being seen in an environment that brings comfort to them and by clinical teams that have an understanding of military personnel and their unique needs. This is now reality [Lieutenant Colonel Carl Meyer]

Lt Col Meyer started the Veterans’ Orthopaedic Service in 2014. He said: ‘The soft launch opening of the Headley Court Veterans’ Orthopaedic Centre is a day I have long dreamt about, even before our fundraising appeal launched in October 2018.'  

He added: ‘For a number of years, we have talked about veterans being seen in an environment that brings comfort to them and by clinical teams that have an understanding of military personnel and their unique needs. This is now reality, which marks the beginning of a new era of bespoke care for our veteran patients and members of the Armed Forces. 

Nine examination and clinic rooms 
The two-storey building contains nine examination and clinic rooms, an enhanced treatment room for minor outpatient procedures, an assessment room, a splinting and therapy room, as well as clinic space for virtual appointments. The building also houses research offices, clinical teaching and training space for staff, a multidisciplinary team room and an office for administration staff.  

Visitors can use a café and a Veterans’ Hub, where staff from Shropshire Council and military charities will offer support to veteran patients and their families and friends. They can receive support for issues such as homelessness, finance, debt management, welfare, post-traumatic stress disorder and benefits.  

Trust chair Harry Turner said: ‘What a proud moment for us to celebrate the country’s first dedicated orthopaedic centre for veterans being open for business. This building is going to make a huge difference to our veteran and serving personnel patients, who deserve the very best standards of care.’ 

Headley Court, sited near Leatherhead in Surrey, was the main medical rehabilitation base for the Armed Forces before services were re-located to a new facility at Stanford Hall National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC), near Loughborough. The NRC, which will have 70 beds, is scheduled to open at the end of 2024.

The ribbon was cut on 11 November by Anna Turner JP, Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, Michael Debens, trustee of the Headley Court Charity and Air Vice Marshal Anthony J Stables, chair of the Headley Court Charity.