Tenders will be invited soon for a new £300M defence rehabilitation centre at Stanford Hall near Loughborough, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has announced.
Medical services for injured military personnel currently delivered at Headley Court in Surrey will move to this new purpose built facility – the ‘defence’ element of the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre – once it becomes operational in 2018.
Construction works will start next year for completion by the end of 2017. Enabling works will be undertaken this year and tendering will get underway shortly, with advertisements and job opportunities appearing in the trade media.
The new facility will be four times the size of Headley Court, providing 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.
The project will involve construction of an 80 bed complex trauma unit and a 20 bed neurological centre, as well as a gym complex providing gymnasia with sprung floors, physiotherapy and hydrotherapy pool areas, podiatry and cardiac rehabilitation facilities for people with injuries and chronic conditions affecting their lower limbs, spine and upper body.
Funding for the development comes from charitable donors following an initiative by the Duke of Westminster.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: “This 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.”
Prime Minister David Cameron said: “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.”
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