A Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre: Volume 1 - Feasibility Study Report

Abstract: In June 2009 the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence announced to Parliament that a Feasibility Study was to be undertaken into the possibility of establishing a Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC). This report is the outcome of that announcement and it has been funded by a benefactor through a charity. A DNRC looks to the future of rehabilitation in the United Kingdom. At its core is a new Defence rehabilitation facility to replace the existing Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court. This new facility will not only allow Defence rehabilitation provided by Defence Medical Services to develop and expand, it will also provide the catalyst for improvements to civilian rehabilitation; offer research and development opportunities, and the potential for “train the trainer” schemes in relation to those Commonwealth countries which have large numbers of victims of recent conflicts. A DNRC will demonstrate how Defence expertise can benefit the Nation as a whole. The capital costs of around £300m for the Defence core of a DNRC will be raised through a major charitable fundraising campaign. This follows the long and distinguished tradition of charitable involvement in the care of injured Servicemen and women. The Ministry of Defence will be responsible for day-to-day operating costs, as is the case at Headley Court. The National element of a DNRC will be funded separately depending on the nature and interest of institutions and organisations which will be co-located on a DNRC site. The Feasibility Study was directed by a Project Board, chaired by a former Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff. It comprised of two phases and commenced in October 2009. The initial phase ascertained the degree of support for a DNRC, established the clinical requirements and considered, at high level, the operating costs. The second phase established the betterment provided by a DNRC and the likely capital costs. This was done through the selection of a test site and the preparation of a real design. To inform the decisions of the Project Board, Judgement Panels of recognised experts were established to review contentious issues in a number of areas, and provide impartial opinion. The Project Board recognizes the need to honour the remarkable achievements of Headley Court and is considering a range of options for using the name in the Defence core of a DNRC