THE Duchess of Edinburgh will formally open the brand-new Veterans' Orthopaedic Centre at Gobowen’s Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt (RJAH) hospital next month, it has been confirmed.

The newly-elevated Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, will come to the £6 million state-of-the-art Headley Court Veterans' Centre on Tuesday, April 4 to officially open its doors.

Stacey Keegan, chief executive at the hospital, said they were honoured to receive the Duchess of Edinburgh to carry out the duties for the centre which opened for patients in November 2022.

She said: “We are very excited that HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh will be heading to Oswestry next month to formally open our Headley Court Veterans’ Orthopaedic Centre.

“We look forward to showcasing the facility and demonstrating the potential it has to transform the quality of care received by veterans from across the country.

“It will be a huge honour for us to welcome Her Royal Highness to our hospital and to introduce her to our dedicated staff, as well as some of the veterans who have already benefitted from our services.”

OTHER NEWS:

The pioneering Headley Court Veterans’ Orthopaedic Centre, built by Knockin-based contractor Pave Aways, was opened with a guard of honour led by Lieutenant Colonel Carl Meyer, consultant orthopaedic surgeon, and Rebecca Warren, Vaccination Service operational manager, alongside RJAH staff representing different NHS professions.

Lt Col Meyer has been the driving force behind the centre’s opening.

On the day he 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.

"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.”

The £6 million two-storey building features nine standard examination and clinic rooms, an enhanced treatment room for minor outpatient procedures, an assessment room, a splinting and therapy room, as well as clinic space for virtual appointments.

The first patient to be seen at the surgery was Alex Baxter, who was in for a review following a double hip replacement in 2021.

The former Wing Commander, who retired in 2006, admitted the work of Lt Col Meyer ‘had given him his life back’, and had travelled to the centre from Shrewsbury, where he lives.

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