News
HRH visits the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham
8th December 2009
The Prince of Wales today paid a morale-boosting pre-Christmas visit to British troops seriously injured in Afghanistan.
The Prince spent time in private with 30 service personnel being cared for on a trauma ward and critical care unit at Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital where the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine is based.
During his third visit to the facility this year, The Prince also viewed the efforts of the Paintings in Hospitals charity, of which he is Patron, to brighten up its corridors.
As The Prince was chatting with soldiers and staff at the unit, Professor Keith Porter praised him for showing a deep interest in the service personnel being treated there over recent years.
The surgeon, who is a Professor of clinical traumatology, said: "The troops, their families and staff are always delighted to see His Royal Highness here.
"It certainly does give a personal uplift to the troops. He has a very personal effect - he takes time to speak to them and it's that individual time that gives value to his visits."
Prof Porter said nine military patients were currently being treated in intensive care at Selly Oak, meaning the unit was as busy as during Operation Panther's Claw, which coincided with last summer's election in Afghanistan.
The Prince also spoke with senior officers during his visit to the hospital, which is the home of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM).
"He has a committed and profound interest in what's happening and in the welfare of the troops," Prof Porter went on. "Without exception, the feedback after his visit is always very positive."
The Prince of Wales also visited Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital to spend time with two other members of the Armed Services, and was shown artwork on display at Selly Oak courtesy of Paintings for Hospitals.
Stuart Davie, the charity's director, said The Prince had shown a keen interest in its work to improve the environment in all healthcare facilities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
A total of 14 works owned by the charity are currently on show at Selly Oak, including one depicting Brixton's Coldharbour Lane and another the Irish port of Dun Laoghaire.
Paintings in Hospitals currently has a library of around 5,000 works and is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The charity’s drawings, paintings and other works are on display at 240 healthcare sites with the aim of reducing patient stress, promoting well-being and improving staff morale.
Mr Davie said: "There's now quite a lot of clinical evidence that supporting the environment supports health care.
"The Prince was thrilled to see the works of the charity and he was very supportive of our scheme."
Brigadier Chris Parker, the Commandant of the RCDM, said the visit and the fact that The Prince followed the fortunes of all the Army's regiments deployed overseas meant an enormous amount to those injured on operations.
"To be visited by The Prince of Wales means an awful lot to them," the officer observed. "It also means a great deal to their families.
"He has a deep interest in the personnel themselves, as well as the hospital staff and the military staff that work with them."