PRINCESS Anne visited a unit at a Bradford hospital earlier today.

HRH The Princess Royal officially opened the new state-of-the-art maternity theatres at Bradford Royal Infirmary’s Women’s and Newborn Unit.

She visited the new facilities and met staff, as well as mum Emily Gledhill.

Her one-year-old little girl, Lottie, was one of the first babies born in the theatres.

Princess Anne ended her tour by unveiling a plaque in the foyer of the unit in the presence of Professor Mel Pickup, chief executive of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, plus members of the maternity team and other guests.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Four-year-old Elsie, daughter of midwife Rachael Gargon, presented a posy of flowers to The Princess Royal.

The £8 million theatres, which carry out planned and emergency caesareans and other complicated deliveries, were built during Covid.

Princess Anne also visited the new enhanced maternal care (EMC) recovery rooms, where mums at high risk of complications can be closely monitored following delivery.

During the visit, she also had the opportunity to hear about the work being done by midwives, other members of the maternity team and the estates team, to enhance pregnancy and birth experiences.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Since the new theatres opened, 1,904 babies have been born in them, with mums being able to see their babies at all times thanks to the design and layout of the area.  

Sara Hollins, director of midwifery at the Trust, said: “We’re incredibly proud that The Princess Royal chose to visit Bradford again, following her visit to our Birth Centre in 2016, to see how we’re progressing on our journey to provide outstanding maternity services to women and babies in the district.

“We value her ongoing support of maternity services and the midwifery profession, in her role as Patron of the Royal College of Midwives.

“As well as providing fantastic facilities, the theatres are a really good and positive thing as they represent life, birth, joy and new beginnings.

“They also provide a whole new, better and more efficient way of working for the theatres team.

"The building of the new theatres and EMC recovery area has given them a new sense of ownership and pride, and being able to incorporate the changes needed from the women’s perspective has given the team a sense of achievement.”