The Royal Hospital Chelsea is the home of the Chelsea Pensioners – the iconic veterans of the British Army. Some 300 men and women live at the Royal Hospital today, including those who have served in Korea, the Falkland Islands, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, and World War II. Others may not have served in campaigns, but all understand what it means to be a soldier and the potential sacrifice that it entails.
The story of today’s Royal Hospital Chelsea begins over 300 years ago during the reign of King Charles II, whose vision for a home for veteran soldiers was brought to life by Sir Christopher Wren. In 1681, responding to the need to look after these soldiers, King Charles II issued a Royal Warrant authorising the building of the Royal Hospital Chelsea to care for those ‘broken by age or war’. Today we continue to offer excellent accommodation, comradeship, and the highest standards of care in recognition of their loyal service to the nation.
The Royal Hospital Chelsea continues to take pride in its military heritage, and we strive to maintain an active relationship with the British Army and its associated organisations, as well as the veteran charitable sector.
As a registered care home, we offer our Chelsea Pensioners both independent living and nursing care. We are very proud to have been judged Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission and to have been awarded Platinum Beacon status in end-of-life care. We are now aspiring to become a dementia-friendly site.
We want to support our Chelsea Pensioners to continue to enjoy life and take part in rewarding activities. To do that, our team provides a range of care and support services, including social care, rehabilitation, medical and nursing services delivered by our professional staff. Our aim is to provide each Chelsea Pensioner with exceptional, personalised medical advice and treatment and promote active aging and fitness so they can enjoy the most healthy, content, and active life possible.
The Margaret Thatcher Infirmary houses our care home where there is nursing support, accommodating up to 68 Chelsea Pensioners and an additional three wards which provide supported accommodation for other Chelsea Pensioners.
Our domiciliary care team provides support for Chelsea Pensioners who live in the ‘long wards’, outside of the Infirmary, to stay safe, comfortable, secure, and independent for as long as possible.
Our Medical Centre is a registered NHS surgery, so our Pensioners are eligible for all available NHS treatments and services through the surgery team, local community clinics or NHS hospitals. Because our practice only serves the Chelsea Pensioners, we can concentrate resources on optimising our patients’ health and wellbeing in a way that would not be possible in a standard surgery.
The Royal Hospital Chelsea’s expert therapy team provides support and rehabilitation. The therapists work with Pensioners to maximise their independence and quality of life by providing specialist assessment and goal-centred treatment and rehabilitation.
Our multi-disciplinary welfare team includes both ex-military and civilian staff members, providing the advice and support which enables Pensioners to live independently and free from unnecessary stress and worry.
As a site of historic significance, we hold several events throughout the year – including Founder’s Day, which is the highlight of the Royal Hospital Chelsea’s calendar. The event has taken place almost every year since the Royal Hospital opened in 1692 and is attended by a Reviewing Officer from the Royal Family and all Chelsea Pensioners, who celebrate the founding of the Royal Hospital by King Charles II. We also host the RHS Chelsea flower show in our beautiful 66-acre site and many other high-profile events which are often open for staff to attend.