More than a building: Stanmore's lasting legacy

Posted by June Heath on 22 December 2025

This month marks the seventh anniversary of the opening of The Stanmore Building at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH). It was a proud moment for RNOH Charity, whose supporters helped contribute nearly £4 million to create a modern, welcoming space for RNOH’s world-leading care. But here’s something many people don’t realise: the Charity’s support didn’t just help create a beautiful new hospital wing; it built a lasting source of income to strengthen the hospital’s NHS services.

When The Stanmore Building first opened, it transformed the inpatient experience. The building is bright, spacious and thoughtfully designed to help people recovering from complex, life-changing treatment and surgery.

What's inside

Thanks to charitable support, the building goes well beyond what the NHS budget could provide. RNOH Charity funded enhanced fixtures and fittings to improve comfort, including a dedicated children’s activity area, gyms, bedside hoists, family sofabeds so loved ones can stay close, individual television screens and specialist furniture.

You might have seen this lovely building but did you know – RNOH Charity even funded an extra storey, creating the fourth floor that now houses RNOH Private Care? Here, patients can choose to pay for their treatment themselves or use health insurance, with surgery and care provided by RNOH’s top teams. Importantly, all of the profit is invested straight back into the hospital’s NHS services.

RNOH Charity also commissioned and installed artwork throughout The Stanmore Building, from photography and sculpture to calming, nature-inspired murals that turn clinical walls into welcoming spaces. We continue to refresh the art, keeping the building vibrant and uplifting. We’re also funding ongoing improvements to communal areas, including gardens and outside spaces, and play therapy for the children’s ward, ensuring the building continues to grow and adapt to the needs of patients, visitors and staff.

The impact of your support

Matt Forde, a patient and RNOH Charity Ambassador, felt the difference when he spent 10 weeks at Stanmore. Matt said: “RNOH Charity does so much to take the pressure off the patient. When you’re in a very difficult situation, it’s bound to affect your mood. The artwork on the walls makes it feel less like a hospital and that is a big deal. It’s a nicer environment to recover in. They’ve got the right approach to creating what a hospital should be like and that allows patients to be more positive.”

Seven years since opening, The Stanmore Building stands as a testament to what thoughtful design and charitable partnership can achieve for everyone, creating a better experience today and a stronger NHS for the future.