Recent winner of the Limbless Association’s award for Centre of Achievement; the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) at Headley Court in Surrey, UK is celebrating its increasing stature as the main rehabilitation unit for British Forces personnel injured in combat. Prosthetics manufacturing company Blatchford provides the Prosthetics Service that makes up a large part of the treatment provided at DMRC and the company is integral to the rehabilitation progress experienced by service men and women.

Alan Tanner, a Blatchford Specialist Prosthetist who manages the Prosthetics and Orthotics clinic at DMRC comments: 'When I first heard about the nomination for the award for Centre of Achievement I was really pleased, knowing the amount of hard work the whole team had put into getting it just right. Dealing with this group of patients, who are highly active and need prosthetic limbs that can cope with their demanding work and lifestyles, meant putting in place a lot of supportive structures and input from specialists from our other clinics. No mean feat really!

This year has seen a huge increase in the number of injured soldiers, particularly in Afghanistan, and improvements in military medicine mean that more soldiers with serious injuries survive than in previous years. Amputation is a frequent result of the roadside bombings and mortar attacks: a style of fighting which in previous theatres of operation like Northern Ireland generated similar injury patterns.

A civilian undergoing amputation will usually be an elderly person with vascular impairment and their rehabilitation will focus on returning independent living. A soldier undergoing an amputation will usually be a young, particularly active individual, whose work and life will encompass a variety of all terrain activities. Rehabilitation for forces personnel focuses on components and technologies that are built for rugged environments but which provide the high level of functionality needed from day to day.

Cpl Stu Hale and Sgt Stu Pearson, both of 3 Para, will become the first amputees to rejoin the conflict when they return to Afghanistan just 14 months after losing their limbs in an horrific incident in the Helmand Province.are getting set to rejoin their battalion back in Afghanistan. Both incurred above knee amputations in action but have proved their fitness having worked their way through the tough regime at Headley Court.