We provide an NHS service exclusively for veterans with arthritis.

The Veterans' Orthopaedic Service is led by Lieutenant Colonel Carl Meyer and is open to those who have served with the UK military, including National Service, and treats arthritic lower limb problems, especially those requiring hip and knee replacements.

Veterans who are serving or have served with the UK Military, including National Service, who require treatment for arthritic lower limb problems, especially those requiring hip and knee replacements.

The Veterans' Orthopaedic Service clinics are held every Thursday afternoon, and twice a month on Friday mornings. During the clinic, patients will see one of our Veterans' Service doctors - more about our doctors can be found here. 

If you would like to be referred to the service, click here for more information.

Patient story

Retired engineer, people manager and company director, David Bates, from Church Stretton, Shropshire, was referred to RJAH by his GP for a hip replacement.

Former patient Mr Bates, who undertook his national service in 1952, before his degree at Cambridge, observes: “The good Colonel Meyer is just the man to make this service work. He combines competence, humour and compassion to engender instinctive respect and confidence.

"I genuinely believe veterans will find it naturally reassuring to be treated by a regular serving officer, who has undertaken three tours to Afghanistan and who wears the British army uniform when seeing all his patients.

"The Veterans’ Service demonstrates that Gobowen is still playing its part for the military – it will surely make them feel deservedly valued and much more at home when being treated by the specialist orthopaedic team.”