Charles and Camilla visit NI

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall have today arrived in Northern Ireland for a series of official engagements.

The first of today’s duties involved the opening of a new £9m Regional Acquired Brain Injury Unit at Musgrave Park Hospital in Belfast.

The new Unit is the first of its kind in the province and marks a major step forward for the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with brain injuries.

The Royal Highnesses were accompanied during the visit by Deputy Chief Executive of Green Park Healthcare Trust, Mr Brian Sore and The Trust’s Clinical Director, Dr John McCann.

During the tour of the unit, which offers a rehabilitation service for around 80 patients transferring from acute hospital care each year, the Royal couple had the opportunity to meet some of the first patients now receiving specialist inpatient and outpatient care, and also to talk with medical staff about the many different services available in the Unit, including medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, speech and occupational therapy, social work and counselling services, all aimed at giving patients as much independence as possible and help them reintegrate into the community.

As part of the tour, TRH also met Dr Patricia Durkin, Chair of the National Osteoporosis Society Belfast Support Group and talked with medical and clinical staff, and volunteer groups associated with the Society.

Her Royal Highness presented a gift on behalf of the Society to Mrs Joan Morris, founder member and first chairman of the Belfast National Osteoporosis Support Group.

Later, Their Royal Highnesses, at a reception attended by around 50 invited guests, went on to officially open the new Unit and unveiled a plaque to commemorate the occasion.

Before bringing the engagement to a close The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall accepted an invitation to sign the visitors’ book before leaving for their next engagement at the Secretary of State’s annual Garden Party.

The theme of this year's party was “The Health Sector including the Complementary Health Sector,” and on arrival the pair were greeted by Mr William Hall, Lord-Lieutenant of County Down and went on to meet Mrs Fionnuala Cook OBE, Sheriff for County Down, and Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Peter Hain.

At Hillsborough Castle, they were introduced to Mr Jonathan Phillips, Permanent Secretary, Northern Ireland Office and Mr Nigel Hamilton, Head of The Northern Ireland Civil Service.

In the Rose Garden they went on to meet Sir Hugh Orde, Chief Constable of the PSNI, along with met Lt General Sir Redmond Watt KCVO OBE, General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland.

In the main garden TRH met Mr Jonathan Craig, Mayor of Lisburn Borough Council and Mayoress Mrs Yvonne Craig. The Secretary of State then invited the couple to plant a tree, with the assistance of Hillsborough Gardener Michael McCarthy.

They then went on a tour of the garden meeting many of the 2,500 guests.

(EF)