News story

£300 million upgrade for defence rehabilitation services

World-class medical services for injured military personnel are to be relocated to a new base in Loughborough.

• From: Ministry of Defence
• Published: 10 July 2014

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Proposed new Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre at Stanford Hall

A £300 million investment will see the world-class defence rehabilitation services currently delivered at Headley Court move to a new purpose-built location at Stanford Hall, near Loughborough.

The new facility will be 4 times the size of Headley Court and will improve and advance the cutting-edge treatments already available to injured members of the armed forces. The new defence rehabilitation centre will provide immediate access to on-site patient diagnosis and treatment plans, greater advances in medical research and better outdoor facilities to support early stages of recovery.

It is planned that the new Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre will open its doors at the end of 2017. Its opening will strengthen the Midlands’ reputation as a centre of medical excellence with the presence of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and the headquarters of the Defence Medical Services.

Watercolour showing the north facade of the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre at Stanford Hall [Picture: BSS Ltd]

Prime Minister David Cameron said:

We are committed to providing the best medical care possible for those injured while bravely serving their country. This new Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre will build on lessons learnt from recent conflicts, help ensure the UK remains at the forefront of advances in medicine, and build an unparalleled regional centre of excellence in the Midlands.

There is no greater example of the commitments under the armed forces covenant than providing first class medical care to our wounded, injured and sick personnel.

The funding for the project comes from charitable donors following an initiative by the Duke of Westminster. Construction at Stanford Hall will commence in 2015 and Headley Court will continue to provide rehabilitation to armed forces personnel until the new establishment is operational in 2018.

The Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court [Picture: Allan House, Crown copyright]

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:

Today’s announcement will establish a long-term, state-of-the-art rehabilitation facility for our injured personnel, building on the great work of Headley Court, to ensure our armed forces continue to receive the very best care.

The Surgeon General, Air Marshal Paul Evans, added:

Thanks to the Duke of Westminster’s initiative and his generosity, and that of other benefactors, a new state-of-the-art medical rehabilitation centre will provide our injured troops with a remarkable place to recover and begin rebuilding their lives.

The new centre will build on the legacy of the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court and the significant support it has received from many forces charities, including Help for Heroes, the Royal British Legion and SSAFA.

It will also provide the bedrock of the capability development for musculoskeletal injuries for the next 20 or so years.

The Surgeon General, Air Marshal Paul Evans

Published 10 July 2014