Britain’s Countess of Wessex has officially opened the new Heart Centre at Ipswich Hospital.
The 49-year-old royal visited the facility in Suffolk, England, yesterday morning (19.03.14), where she met the doctors, nurses and patients, before declaring the unit open.
The centre has been updated and installed with new state-of-the art equipment after three years of heavy campaigning, which saw members of the public raise more than £30,000, while Heartbeat East Suffolk made a generous £78,000 donation.
The money raised was used to pay for mood lighting in the two new theatres and the installation of calming music, as well as other hi-tech equipment.
The hospital’s chief executive Nick Hulme gave the Countess a tour of the cardiac centre before they met lead consultant Dr Duncan McNab, who explained the procedures that are carried out.
Speaking before unveiling a plaque, Sophie said: "Congratulations to all of you.
"What an impressive department you have and I have no doubt that the many patients who will be undergoing procedures here will be hugely and eternally grateful.
"The attention to detail with mood lighting and music says it all."
Countess of Wessex opens Heart Centre in Ipswich
