Duchess of Cornwall hails close military ties in Staffordshire visit

The unveiling of the £138 million medical facility at Whittington Barracks in Lichfield marked the culmination of six years of building work.

Around 1,400 military and civilian personnel will be based at the site along with 7,000 students a year.

The Duchess spoke to the gathered crowd including schoolchildren and dignitaries during her visit yesterday, before making a speech.

She said: "If I may say so, it is wonderful that so many from the local community are here to celebrate today.

"It shows the close ties between the medical services and the communities amongst which they live and work.

"In this sense it is so heartening that the good people of Staffordshire have recognised the significant role that those who serve in Her Majesty's Armed Forces play at home and abroad.

"It is only with the strong support of the public that organisations like the Defence Medical Services are able to operate effectively, knowing that what they do is so valued by those whom they serve."

The Duchess also paid a visit to a stand manned by the SSAFA during yesterday's visit.

Staffordshire County secretary George Street said: "I just said welcome to the SSAFA marquee and her comment very simply was 'are SSAFA doing their usual brilliant work' as she knows what SSAFA does. I said 'definitely'."

The decision to create a unified headquarters for the Defence Medical Services in the Midlands was made in July 2006, with building work starting early in 2008.

Around 1,400 military and civilian personnel will be permanently based at DMS (Whittington), together with a throughput of approximately 7,000 students per annum.

The decision to create a combined headquarters for the Defence Medical Services in the Midlands was made in July 2006, with building work starting in early 2008.

The first students arrived in March this year to start medical training in the newly formed Defence College of Healthcare Education and Training.