Royal patronage marks proud milestone for Veterans’ Orthopaedic Service

The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital is proud to announce that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh has agreed to become Patron of its Veterans’ Orthopaedic Service — a pioneering service supporting veterans and members of the Armed Forces community with specialist musculoskeletal and orthopaedic care.

The new patronage was announced with the unveiling of a portrait of Her Royal Highness in the Headley Court Veterans’ Orthopaedic Centre today, immediately following the annual Act of Remembrance Service.

Her appointment marks an important milestone for the service, which was founded in 2014 by Lieutenant Colonel Carl Meyer, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at RJAH, and has since grown into a nationally-recognised model of care for veterans and serving personnel.

That growth led to the creation of the £6 million Headley Court Veterans’ Orthopaedic Centre, the UK’s first dedicated orthopaedic facility for veterans, which was officially opened by HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh during a visit to RJAH in April 2023. It was made possible by the support of The Headley Court Charity – who also lent their name to the building, and remain key partners to the present day.

Since opening its doors, the centre has become a focal point for specialist healthcare for veterans and members of the Armed Forces community, bringing together expert orthopaedic care within an environment designed around the needs of those who have served. During its first year alone, the centre welcomed more than 2,000 patients.

For many veterans, the service provides not only specialist clinical care, but reassurance that their military background and experiences are understood.

Lt Col Carl Meyer, founder and Director of the Veterans’ Orthopaedic Service, said: “When we established the Veterans’ Orthopaedic Service, the vision was to create care designed around the unique needs of veterans and serving personnel. To see how far it has come, and now to have the support of Her Royal Highness as Patron, is both humbling and immensely encouraging.

“This patronage highlights the importance of specialist support for the Armed Forces community, and it will help us continue to build on the service’s success for the benefit of veterans from across the UK.”

The Veterans’ Orthopaedic Service is continuing to develop beyond traditional orthopaedic treatment. Alongside its established clinical pathways, the team is delivering a Rehabilitation Service pilot exploring enhanced recovery support for veterans, including more coordinated advice, recovery planning and access to specialist expertise following orthopaedic treatment.

The pilot has the potential to extend the reach and impact of the service, helping more veterans access specialist rehabilitation and recovery support as part of RJAH’s ambition to deliver world-class healthcare for the Armed Forces community.

Stacey Keegan, Chief Executive of RJAH, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh has become Patron of our Veterans’ Orthopaedic Service.

“Her Royal Highness has shown a genuine interest in the care and wellbeing of veterans and members of the Armed Forces community, and we were honoured to welcome her to RJAH for the official opening of the Headley Court Veterans’ Orthopaedic Centre in 2023.

“This patronage recognises the work undertaken by our teams over many years and of our ambition to continue developing specialist services for veterans. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Her Royal Highness as we build on the strong foundations already in place.”

Harry Turner, Trust Chair, added: “The announcement that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh is becoming Patron of the Veterans’ Orthopaedic Service is a proud moment for everyone associated with RJAH.

“The service has grown from an ambitious vision into a nationally recognised model of care, and this patronage underlines the importance of ensuring that those who have served our country receive the highest standards of care and support.

“We are immensely grateful for Her Royal Highness’s interest in the work being undertaken here and look forward to the next chapter in the continued development of this pioneering service.”

The Veterans’ Orthopaedic Service was established to ensure veterans could access care from clinicians who understand both the physical demands of military service and the specific challenges faced by Armed Forces personnel. Over the past decade, the service has continued to grow, supported by partners including the Headley Court Charity and a network of veterans’ organisations.

HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh officially opened the Headley Court Veterans’ Orthopaedic Centre in April 2023, meeting patients, staff and volunteers and learning more about the pioneering work taking place at RJAH.

RJAH looks forward to working with Her Royal Highness in her new role as Patron as the Trust continues to develop and expand services for veterans and members of the Armed Forces community.

Pictured: With the portrait of The Duchess of Edinburgh at the event to announce her patronage are, from left, Lt Col Carl Meyer, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Clinical Director of the Veterans’ Orthopaedic Service; and Harry Turner, Chair of The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital.