Senior royal named as patron of veterans’ service at Oswestry hospital

An Oswestry hospital has announced that a senior member of the Royal Family has agreed to become a patron of its veterans’ orthopaedic service.

The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital has revealed that Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, is the new patron of the pioneering service that supports veterans and members of the armed forces who need specialist musculoskeletal and orthopaedic care.

The patronage was announced, alongside a portrait of the Duchess, after the hospital’s annual remembrance service.

The Duchess of Edinburgh opened the veterans’ orthopaedic centre on a visit to the RJAH in 2023.

Lieutenant Colonel Carl Meyer, the founder and director of the service, said the patronage of the Duchess of Edinburgh will have key benefits for the operation.

He 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.”

Lt Col Meyer founded the service in 2014 and has watched it grow into a nationally-recognised model of care for veterans and serving personnel.

The service is still trying to continue to develop its treatment practises beyond traditional norms.

It 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.

Stacey Keegan, Chief Executive of RJAH, echoed similar sentiments to Lt Col Meyer in her excitement about the opportunity that a royal patronage offers.

She 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.”