Welcare proudly attended the Maxillofacial Unit opening at St Luke’s Hospital, joining the NHS Charity 100 Club to support vital facial reconstruction care, including cleft lip surgery, cancer recovery, and trauma reconstruction.
A Landmark Moment for Healthcare in Bradford
On 18 September, a milestone in patient care was marked with the official opening of the Maxillofacial Unit at St Luke’s Hospital. This state-of-the-art facility, designed to deliver pioneering treatment in oral and maxillofacial surgery, reflects the NHS’s dedication to world-class, patient-centred care. Welcare was honoured to attend and represent our sector at this landmark event.
The unit will serve patients from across the region, offering complex surgical support to those facing life-altering conditions such as head and neck cancers, cleft lip and palate, and facial trauma.
For Welcare, this moment was more than ceremonial. It was a tangible expression of the values we hold dear: compassion, collaboration, and commitment to vulnerable lives.
What is a Maxillofacial Unit?
A maxillofacial department is a highly specialised hospital unit dealing with diseases, injuries, and defects of the head, neck, face, jaws, and oral cavity. This includes both the surgical and non-surgical management of:
- Head and neck cancer surgery
- Cleft lip and palate repair
- Facial trauma reconstruction
- Corrective jaw procedures
- Dental implants and oral surgery
The care delivered is not just surgical. It integrates dental, medical, psychological, and rehabilitative support. It requires a multidisciplinary approach that understands the physical and emotional impact of facial disfigurement and trauma.
Dr Al-Khayat
Leading Surgeon, Lifesaver, Innovator
A true highlight of the event was the presence of Dr Al-Khayat, a nationally respected figure in oral and maxillofacial surgery. His work, particularly in bone plating techniques and reconstructive trauma surgery, has been cited in leading medical journals and adopted across the NHS.
Dr Al-Khayat’s demonstration of new 3D printing technologies used in surgical preparation offered a glimpse into the future of personalised patient care. These models not only improve precision during operations but also help patients understand their treatment journey, offering both confidence and clarity at a difficult time.
A Welcare Contribution
Practical, Collaborative, Compassionate
Representing Welcare at the event was Resident Manager Ash Chaudary, who engaged attendees with a hands-on demonstration of a dental image scanner. This cutting-edge diagnostic tool plays a critical role in planning complex surgeries and post-operative care.
Our team shared how such technologies are used not only in hospitals, but also as part of care pathways that extend to residential children’s homes, where young people may require ongoing dental or maxillofacial support.
We also had the privilege of formally announcing Welcare’s new membership in the NHS Charity 100 Club. This means:
- Fundraising for specialist care units like this one
- Raising awareness of surgical innovations
- Collaborating on care initiatives across health and social care
Why This Partnership Matters
Our children’s homes often care for young people who have experienced trauma, physical, emotional, or both. Some may be recovering from injuries that require surgical intervention. Others may face challenges related to birth conditions like cleft palate, or have experienced neglect that affects their dental and facial development.
Supporting advanced healthcare like the Maxillofacial Unit at St Luke’s Hospital is an extension of Welcare’s mission to provide holistic, therapeutic, and dignified care. It ensures that:
- Vulnerable young people receive the best clinical support possible
- They feel seen, valued, and supported beyond just their emotional needs
- There is a bridge between clinical care and community-based recovery
This is how we build brighter futures: by combining expertise, compassion, and community.
Looking Ahead: Hope, Healing, and Holistic Health
As the new Maxillofacial Unit begins its work, Welcare remains committed to championing the cause of integrated care. We believe that organisations like ours, working closely with local NHS Trusts, charities, and community leaders, can help reshape what recovery looks like for children and families.
We celebrate this facility not just for its medical brilliance, but for what it symbolises: the power of collaboration in healing both visible wounds and the invisible scars left by trauma.
