West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven hosted Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal as the new £40m facilities were officially opened.

Her Royal Highness unveiled the plaque on Thursday, October 24, and was invited to sign the visitor book which had previously been signed by The Queen Mother when she first opened West Cumberland Hospital in 1964 and King Charles III when he visited the hospital in 2010.

The ceremony was watched by representatives from the other wards that are part of the building along with Trust’s estates, design and construction partners.

Accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant Mr Alexander Scott, Her Royal Highness met with the Trust’s Chair Steven Morgan and Chief Executive Lyn Simpson.

The Princess Royal is Patron of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and was escorted by Joni Mitchell, the Trust’s Head of Occupational Therapy as Her Royal Highness stopped to chat to patients and occupational therapy staff from North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust about the new facilities.

The new facilities include a therapy gym, a courtyard with access to a challenge path and a kitchen to prepare patients for returning home after a stay in hospital.

She also talked with occupational therapists who have been developing an improved pathway to support patients rehabilitate and recover from a stroke and with patients undergoing therapy in the facilities that are part of the new investment.

Dr Sarah Elliott, Associate Director of AHPs at NCIC spoke to HRH Princess Anne about the facilities saying: “We hope we have demonstrated that despite the geographical challenges of being a diverse rural and coastal organisation, that NCIC continues to develop and innovate evidence-based practice allowing individuals to start well, live well and age well.

“We hope that we have demonstrated to you the sense of real pride our community and colleagues feel for the outstanding services we provide and how much we appreciate your support.”

Her Royal Highness was then introduced to the Trust’s first occupational therapy apprentices, as well as University of Cumbria OT students on leadership placements, as she heard about the Trust’s work to build a more sustainable occupational therapy workforce in the future.