Princess Royal officially opens Shropshire Women and Children’s Centre

Her Royal Highness unveiled a plaque marking the official opening of the £28 million Centre after being given a tour of some of the facilities.

The Centre, at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, fully opened to patients at the end of September and is now the main inpatient facility for women and children in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales.

Her Royal Highness spent more than an hour visiting areas including the Children’s Oncology and Haematology Department, the Postnatal Ward, the Walker Trust Suite and the Neonatal Ward, speaking to staff, patients and their families.

The Princess was met at the Centre by Professor Peter Latchford, Chair of The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, and Trust Chief Executive Peter Herring. She also met staff from the Centre including Mrs Cathy Smith, Women and Children’s Care Group Director and Head of Midwifery, and Mr Andrew Tapp, Women and Children’s Care Group Medical Director, as well as Mrs Kate Shaw, Programme Manager for the Shropshire Women and Children’s Centre development.

The Princess, who was on her third visit to the hospital, said:

"This marks the progress of time. It is 25 years since I first came and I don't underestimate for a second the work it has taken to create this facility. But it also demonstrates that you have adapted and made the best of what modern technology has to offer."

She joked that such a facility was needed because of the "occupational hazard" of being female and said the Centre, and its staff, would add to the confidence of women raising their children.

"Confidence is a very fragile commodity, but with the right support and facilities, that confidence can stay with you," she said.

Mr Andrew Tapp, inviting the Princess Royal to unveil the plaque marking the official opening, said:

"Your Royal Highness, I believe we are able to present to you an excellent facility for the population of Shropshire and mid Wales, staffed by dedicated teams whose desire and aspiration is to deliver the best care possible.

"It is an absolute delight to have you here at the Princess Royal Hospital for, I believe, the third time and would ask you to formally open the Shropshire Women and Children’s Centre."

Mrs Cathy Smith, speaking after the visit, said:

"I and my colleagues, along with the friends and guests who attended today, had a wonderful day showing the Princess Royal our fantastic facilities.

"It was a wonderful opportunity to pause from the busy day-to-day schedules and recognise the achievement which has only been made possible by so many people."

Mrs Kate Shaw added: "Today's opening was a real celebration of all the hard work and commitment in the creation of the Women and Children's Centre and delivery of the changes to women and children's services.

"It was a real honour to meet the Princess Royal and the time she gave to staff and patients will always be remembered."