Headley Court

The Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre is the premier facility for the rehabilitation of injured Service personnel and has been since the Second World War.  Originally it was developed as a rehabilitation centre for aircrew and officers following a collection and donation of monies during the Second World War.  In 1984 it opened its doors to personnel of all ranks and Services.   It became the main tri-Service rehabilitation centre in 1996 with the consolidation of the then rehabilitation facilities.  Since 2002 it has played a central role delivering rehabilitation as part of a Servicewide network of 14 medical Regional Rehabilitation Units.

Headley Court House is located between Epsom and Leatherhead and was built by Lord Cunliffe in the late 19^th century, although there has been a house on the site since the 17^th century.  This was bought by the 'Headley Court Trust' in 1946 for the purposes of rehabilitation and is rented by the MOD for this use.  Headley Court is an 84-acre site with accommodation and rehabilitation facilities for up to 160 patients.  There is a 36-bed ward for patients requiring more complex rehabilitation.

The Defence Medical Education and Training Agency unit  provides clinical, academic and military training and education to medical Service personnel, preparing them for deployment on operations and exercises worldwide.  Training is undertaken at the Royal Centre of Defence Medicine, Defence Services Medical Training Centre, MOD Hospital Units as well as at Headley Court.  Personnel hone their clinical skills in the NHS host Trusts, which also provide secondary health care to Service personnel.

Headley Court offers access to all aspects of rehabilitation with on-site Consultants, physiotherapists, remedial instructors, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, social workers, a psychologist and a cognitive therapist.  It has five gymnasiums and a large hydrotherapy pool to support the clinical departments.  The medical records department, workshops for the production of prosthesis, logistical and administration staff support Headley Court's clinical role.  It also contains the Joint Service School of Remedial Instructors.

Headley Court is in a period of rapid change and development.  This is a direct consequence of the requirement for a better co-ordinated provision for injured personnel returning from operations, overseas or in the UK. It has recently become the Services' rehabilitation provider for patients requiring complex rehabilitation, amputee management and prosthetic limb fitting, and the coordination of patients with musculoskeletal injuries returning from operational theatres. These vitally necessary services have never before been so essential, particularly with our  wounded Servicemen and women returning from areas of conflict such as Iraq and Afghanistan.