First step towards new facilities for injured Service personnel

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has taken the first step towards delivering new clinical facilities at Headley Court to help speed the rehabilitation of injured Service personnel. It has awarded a contract to regional industry partner PriDE to build new wards accommodating almost 50 patients at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC), near Leatherhead, Surrey.

The Headley Court Patient & Clinical Accommodation Project (PCAP) will comprise two main buildings:

a 48-bed ward building with day rooms, dining area and an dedicated flat to help patients get to grips with living independently
a therapy building comprising imagery suite, gym, patient consultation, prosthetic workshops and fitting facilities.

Surgeon Vice Admiral Philip Raffaelli, Surgeon General, comments: ‘Headley Court is the MoD’s premier facility for the rehabilitation of injured Service personnel, providing rehabilitation for complex injuries, including amputees and brain-injured patients. The PCAP project demonstrates the MoD’s continued commitment to the DMRC to ensure its excellent support to members of the Armed Forces is maintained.’

The new complex will be located within the grounds of Headley Court – next to the listed garden, among mature trees. Close liaison with the local planning authority and Headley Court Trustees allowed the project to progress quickly and it was fast-tracked to contract award; an accelerated construction programme should help to deliver the new facilities by the end of June 2012.

DIO Project Manager George Liu confirms: ‘DIO’s top priority is to support the Armed Forces and their families. We are delighted that the project is under way and we can deliver as quickly as possible a range of facilities to help speed the rehabilitation of injured Service personnel at Headley Court.’