On Tuesday, The Princess Royal will visit to the Bradford Royal Infirmary to meet with mothers, doctors, midwives and babies. Princess Anne is patron of the Royal College of Midwives, (RCM) and Bradford will showcase the work done in its award-winning maternity unit.
Accompanying Her Royal Highness on her visit will be The RCM President Professor Lesley Page and Chief Executive Cathy Warwick along with NHS staff and other dignitaries. She will visit the Birth Centre led by midwives, the consultant-led labour ward, and the Snowdrop Bereavement Suite. She will chat with staff and new mothers about their experiences of giving birth.
The focus of this visit is to highlight the work being done by midwives and other members of the maternity team to enhance womens’ pregnancy and birth experiences. The 65-year-old will also learn more about the Better Start Bradford Project which aims to improve better outcomes for women living in deprived areas of Bradford. The Born in Bradford Project is a research study tracking the lives of those children born in the district.
Another focus of the visit will be on the RCM’s better Births initiative. This project aims to improve normality during pregnancy and birth, to reduce birth inequalities for both mother and child, and to increase the access and continuity of care midwifery-lead care for all women. The Princess will also unveil a commemorative plaque.
Professor Clive Kay, Chief Executive of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS, said: “We are delighted that Her Royal Highness has chosen to visit our maternity services in her role as patron of the RCM.
“The staff are very much looking forward to meeting her to explain how we work with women and their families to provide highly valued, personalised care and choice in a safe and welcoming birth environment.”
He concluded by expanding on her tour: “Her Royal Highness will also get the opportunity to tour our first-class maternity facilities and speak with our dedicated and professional workforce.”
Professor Lesley Page, President of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “This is an exceptional maternity team offering women, their babies and families excellent care. I am delighted that The Princess Royal is making this visit to the Trust’s maternity unit.”