CHARITIES: Queen Alexandra Hospital Home

This year, as the nation marks the Centenary of the First World War, the Queen Alexandra Hospital Home (QAHH) in Worthing celebrates its 95th birthday.

Over the last 95 years, the Queen Alexandra Hospital Home (QAHH) has supported an estimated 6,000 veterans and their families through its care and rehabilitation – services which are needed as much today as they were in 1919.

With casualties in the First World War having reached appalling numbers, the home was established to care for those who were permanently disabled. Thousands of soldiers returned from the battlefields with life-changing injuries. QAHH, the vision of Gladys, Marchioness of Ripon, was founded in 1919 in Roehampton through the gener osity of the Charrington family, who kindly loaned their home, Gifford House. People from all walks of life rallied around to help, including the Royal family and, in particular, a lady named Mrs Hay, who devoted over 30 years of her life to bringing this vision to reality.

In 1934, when the lease on Gifford House was up, the Queen Alexandra Hospital Home moved from Roehampton to Worthing, where it made its permanent home. Each year it provides care and rehabilitation to more than 100 physically disabled ex-Servicemen and -women. With 60 beds, a physiotherapy suite, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy, it can offer long-term and respite care, and most importantly improves the lives of veterans living with severe physical disabilities or neurological conditions.

Wounded ex-servicemen outside the new Worthing home

Scott’s story

Scott served for nine years with the Parachute Regiment in Northern Ireland, Somalia, and the Falklands. In 2011, he was brutally mugged in Brighton, left unable to speak or swallow, and with little movement in the right side of his body. He transferred to QAHH in March 2012, where he received 24-hour nursing care and rehabilitation. During his time, he made incredible progress. He began to breathe, eat, and drink independently, and over a period of time his speech improved. With four physiotherapy sessions a week, he learned to walk and climb stairs. Following reconstruction surgery on his skull, he was ready to return home. On 26 January 2013, he returned to Ireland, where he is planning his wedding and a return to university.

‘I will never forget what QAHH did for me mentally and physically – they gave me courage to continue with what life I thought I had left. I would like to say a big thank you to all the carers and nurses who looked after me, a few of whom I hold deeply in my heart for all they did for me. It’s a fantastic place for us all to be so proud of.’