Birmingham "home away from home" has helped thousands of injured military personnel
Fisher House is celebrating it's ten year anniversary
Last updated 4th May 2023
Fisher House at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QE) in Birmingham is celebrating ten years since it was opened by the then Prince of Wales, HRH Prince Charles on 21 June 2013.
The 18 bedroom "home away from home" is for military patients and their families to use whilst their loved one is being treated at the hospital.
The purpose-built building is situated on the QE site and is located within walking distance of the hospital.
It has supported over 6,500 families in the past decade, including Stuart Robinson's.
Stuart, was serving in the Royal Air Force when he lost both his legs in a blast in Afghanistan. He was airlifted to the UK's only military hospital - the QE, and put into an induced coma.
His family who were based at RAF Cosford in Wolverhampton, were one of the first to stay at Fisher House, while he was treated at the hospital for 10 months.
He said: “having my family so close to where I was being treated, gave me so much peace of mind; knowing they were safe and being looked after. It allowed me to focus on myself and my recovery, which I believe helped me to return home a lot sooner.”
When a member of the military is injured abroad they are flown directly to Birmingham Airport and taken straight to the QE to be treated by UHB doctors who are experts in dealing with major trauma injuries.
Many families have to then travel to Birmingham from all over the UK and even abroad, and are faced with paying for hotels, petrol and parking.
Fisher House offers them free accommodation on site with only a 5 minute walk from their loved ones. As it’s purely for the family of military personnel it gives them the chance to talk with others going through a similar experience.
It's also a home for military personnel and veterans who may have other illnesses and need treatment at the QE from cancer treatment to transplants. They could be in for a number of weeks, even months, so this offers their family a safe space to stay and be close by.
Fisher House is entirely funded by UHB Charity and relies solely on donations to keep this facility running, year after year.
Stuart thanks Fisher House for all their support. He has now gone on to be a gold medallist in the Invictus Games and won gold in GB Wheelchair Rugby in the Paralympics in Tokyo in 2020.