QVH celebrates 80th anniversary of C-Wing

Queen Victoria Hospital celebrated the 80^th anniversary of pioneering and groundbreaking care, forged during the Second World War, with an event that brought together countries, military personnel, patients, politicians and clinicians.

The Canadian Wing at QVH was constructed by the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers and then handed over to the Royal Canadian Air Force on August 28 1944.

The RCAF were stationed near to the hospital in East Grinstead, and the Canadian Wing and its staff provided reconstructive burns surgery and care for Allied aircrew injured in battle.

At the end of the war the Canadian Wing was gifted to QVH, and 80 years on is still providing life-changing care and rehabilitation services for patients undergoing plastics and reconstructive surgery.

The celebration event held at the hospital last week sought to recognise the achievements of Canadian Wing and the outstanding care provided by its staff since its creation. The celebration also provided the chance to reflect on the Canadian Wing’s important historical links to the Canadian and British Armed Forces and the vital contribution it has made in caring for those aircrew patients injured in the war.

QVH Chief Executive James Lowell, East Grinstead Town Mayor, Steve Ody, and Captain Chris Peschke, Naval Adviser for Canadian Defence, were the main speakers. Conservative MP for East Grinstead and Uckfield, Mims Davies, also attended, and also spoke, congratulating the hospital, saying: “This place is incredible; truly wonderful. It has been an honour to be here today and look back on the past 80 years.”

The event concluded with the ceremonial planting of a Canadian Maple Tree to signify the enduring bond between the Canadian Armed Forces and its people and QVH.

QVH CEO James Lowell said: “It has been a wonderful event, celebrating 80 years of the Canadian Wing. The care provided back then – pioneering, innovative, world leading care – was the start of what this hospital has been doing ever since and what we are known throughout the world for.

“I want to thank everyone involved in organising the event, all the guests who attended, and all the speakers, especially Captain Peschke, for coming to the hospital to represent his country.”

Steve Ody, East Grinstead Town Mayor; Chief Medical Officer Lt. Col. Tania Cubison; Mims Davies, Conservative MP for East Grinstead & Uckfield; Captain Chris Peschke, Naval Adviser for Canadian Defence; and James Lowell, Chief Executive Officer, pictured with the ceremonial Canadian Maple Tree at the front entrance to the hospital.