A pioneering centre for military veterans – the first of its kind in the UK – has opened its doors following our successful completion of the project.
We built the Headley Court Veterans’ Orthopaedic Centre at the world-renowned The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (RJAH) in Gobowen that will deliver specialist care for Armed Forces veterans.
The centre is set to change the face of medical care for veterans, co-ordinating services under one roof for former military servicemen and women. The £6m two-storey building has examination rooms, clinic rooms, a treatment and procedure room, an assessment room and a splinting and therapy room and clinic space for virtual appointments.
In the main entrance foyer of the centre, there is a café and a dedicated veterans’ hub, where support will be available to veterans and their family and friends on issues including homelessness, finance and debt management, welfare, benefits, health and PTSD. There are also offices for research, admin support, clinical teaching and training space for staff and a multi-disciplinary team room.
Lt Col Carl Meyer, who started the Veterans’ Orthopaedic Service back in 2014, 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.
“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.
“Thanks must go to The Headley Court Charity for their amazingly generous grant, for believing in what we’re doing here and ultimately supporting our long-term vision for world class veterans’ healthcare.”
Managing Director Steven Owen said: “Being part of delivering this UK first for healthcare and the military has been a huge honour for Pave Aways. The people who serve our country deserve our respect and support and we have been able to provide the framework for this new service.
“As a long time construction partner of The RJAH we have built much of the hospital’s infrastructure in recent years but this is a project that has a very special place in our hearts.”
