HRH The Princess Royal visits South Lake Birth Centre, Barrow-in-Furness

on 12 September 2019

Her Royal Highness (HRH) The Princess Royal has made a visit to South Lake Birth Centre in Barrow-in-Furness, following on from a visit to the maternity wing at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.

HRH The Princess Royal, who is a patron of the Royal College of Midwives, visited the South Lake Birth Centre that is made up of 14 en-suite rooms, a maternity assessment area, a transitional care facility and a skills lab for staff training.

During her visit, she was greeted by midwives, student midwives and maternity support workers.

CEO of the RCM Gill Walton, RCM President Kathryn Gutteridge and RCM Board Member Sacha Wells, were in attendance to welcome HRH The Princess Royal.

Speaking about the visit, Gill Walton, said: “It was fantastic to meet so many midwives on the Royal Visit yesterday and see first-hand the improvements to this maternity service. The Trust has worked closely and in collaboration with women, their families and the local community to develop a maternity service that meets their needs and that is very much evident.

“The entire team at the South Lake Birth Centre are an excellent example of a maternity service that has over the past number of years worked hard to improve the service it delivers and they have an engaged, enthusiastic and empowered team of midwives, student midwives and MSWs who work closely with the wider multi-disciplinary team which enables them to deliver choice and continuity of care to women.

“The facilities are state of the art everything from the birthing rooms to the bereavement suite should be the blueprint for all birth centres.”

Executive Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Executive at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, Sue Smith OBE, adds: “I’d like to say a big Morecambe Bay thank you to these families, HRH The Princess Royal and the Royal College of Midwives for such a special and unforgettable day.”