Princess delivers special visit to ERI birth centre

The Princess Royal was due to visit the Birth Centre at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary today.

The £2.8 million centre, which opened in October, features midwife-led care and with en-suite rooms containing birthing pools, sofa beds and homely surroundings.

It is used by women who are expecting straightforward deliveries, with around 1500 new mums a year expected to give birth there.

Gillian Smith, Royal College of Midwives director for Scotland, said: “This birth centre and others like it are wonderful environments for women and their families, and I hope that this royal visit will raise the profile of midwife-led care even further.

“I know that the midwives at the Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health will be honoured by this royal visit.”

Princess Anne was due to visit at 11.30am, meeting staff, parents and babies.

The centre was built to help cope with a rising birth rate in the Lothians.