We are delighted to award a £10,000 grant to Fisher House, the “home away from home” for military patients and their families at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital is the receiving hospital for all the UK’s military patients when they are ill or injured. Fisher House is purpose built, with 18 en-suite bedrooms, and was established in 2013 to offer convenient accommodation to military families supporting their loved ones in patient care. Accommodation is available to the families of both serving personnel and veterans, many of whom travel long distances for treatment and experience financial pressures at a stressful time in their lives.
Charlie is an Army veteran who had vital heart surgery at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The Defence Medical Welfare Service introduced his wife Tracy to Fisher House, which provided accommodation for the family and gave their daughter her own room.
Tracy said: “Walking through the door at Fisher House felt like one big hug. It is a beautiful house and was a much-needed base for me whilst Charlie was in hospital. There is a warmth about it which is difficult to describe. The staff are amazing.”
Mike Hammond, Charity Chief Executive of University Hospitals Birmingham Charity and Fisher House UK, said:
“We are incredibly proud of our partnership with ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and so grateful for their years of support. It is a milestone year for Fisher House, as it has been 10 years since we first opened our doors to injured and ill military personnel and their loved ones. Thanks to the generous donations from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, we are proud to say we have welcomed over 6,000 families and provided over 35,000 nights of accommodation. Thank you for helping to keep our heroes and their families together through some of the toughest times in their lives.”
Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, added:
“Military families deserve a safe, secure and welcoming environment during periods of hospital treatment. As the Army’s national charity, we are proud of our longstanding association with Fisher House and this latest grant to its work helping Army families at times of stress and need.”
Read more here: https://www.hospitalcharity.org/fisherhouseuk