The Headley Court Veterans’ Orthopaedic Centre, which we built at the world-renowned The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (RJAH) in Gobowen, has been officially opened by HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh.
Managing director Steven Owen, construction director Jamie Evans and site manager Andrew Owen were invited to be part of the opening ceremony where the Duchess toured the new facility and met staff and patients.
Steven, who was introduced to the Duchess as part of the official line up, spoke to her about the construction of the centre and said she was ‘knowledgeable’ about the process.
The pioneering centre – the first of its kind in the UK – delivers specialist care for Armed Forces veterans.
For the first time ever, former military servicemen and women can access co-ordinating services under one roof. 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.
There is also a café and a dedicated veterans’ hub, where support is available to veterans and their family and friends on issues including homelessness, finance and debt management, welfare, benefits, health and PTSD, offices and clinical teaching and training space for staff.
Steven said: “It was an absolute honour to be selected to build this amazing new facility that is changing the way our military veterans can access medical care and other support.
“To be a part of the official Royal opening and see the centre in action was the icing on the cake. Very often we don’t get to see the buildings we create serving their purpose, so this was extra special.”
Following completion of the build, we signed the Armed Forces Covenant, a pledge to signal our support for people who are serving in, or who have served in, the armed forces.