A £10.7m recovery centre has opened in North Yorkshire for men and women who have been injured or become ill during their service.  The groundbreaking facility is the first of its kind in the north of England and will accompany four other recovery centres for service personnel in the UK.

Based at Catterick Garrison, the centre Phoenix House will provide much-needed support to injured personnel and their families.  Co-founder of Help for Heroes, Bryn Parry, said that the centre would play a fundamental role in “inspiring, enabling and supporting our wounded, and their families, for the rest of their lives”.

Residents can create their own recovery plan

At the centre – which is run by the Ministry of Defence and the Help for Heroes/ Royal British Legion charities – residents will be able to develop their own recovery plan using the advice of military and civilian specialists.  With access to work placements, educational programmes and sport facilities, recovering personnel will be able to achieve their long-term goals.  Help for Heroes said that such facilities are vital to enable a smooth transition into civilian life, or back into their line of duty.

Centrally available records reveal that between the January 2006 and July 2013: 

• - 2,146 UK military and civilian personnel were admitted to UK field hospitals and categorised as Wounded in Action.
• - 4,791 UK military and civilian personnel were admitted to UK field hospitals for disease or non-battle injuries.
• - 296 UK personnel were categorised as Very Seriously Injured from all causes excluding disease.
• - 301 UK personnel were categorised as Seriously Injured from all causes excluding disease.
• - 6,883 aeromedical evacuations have taken place for UK military and civilian personnel injured or ill in Afghanistan.

If you have sustained an injury at work or overseas, and are looking to claim compensation, please contact us.