THE new North Cotswolds Hospital in Moreton was given the Royal seal of approval as HRH Prince Michael of Kent visited to mark the official opening.

The Prince, accompanied by HM Lord-Lieutenant for Gloucestershire, Dame Janet Trotter, took a tour of the hospital before meeting staff, patients, clinicians and managers along with the construction and design teams.

He was welcomed by children waving flags from St David’s Primary and Dormer House Schools and spent time talking to them outside before taking a tour of the hospital. The hospital, on Stow Road in Moreton, welcomed its first patients on March 31.

Linda Edwards, matron at North Cotswolds Hospital, said: “It was a lovely day and he seemed to be genuinely interested in the hospital and talking to the staff and patients.

“He spent a lot of time speaking to a lot of groups of staff including the builders and contractors and anybody else who was involved in the hospital.

“He asked me about how many beds we had and how lovely it will be when some of the plants and trees grow in the summer.

“He was also interested in the outside grounds where we have an area where patients can exercise. He seemed genuinely pleased to be asked to be there and open the hospital for us.”

Jan Stubbings, chief executive of NHS Gloucestershire, said the visit gave them the opportunity to “recognise and appreciate the tremendous achievement of NHS staff” who have worked with the community to create the hospital.

The new hospital has 22 en suite rooms and offers diagnostic facilities including Xray, a minor injuries unit and outpatient services as well as a facility for mobile services such as breast screening.

Features including a visitors’ garden, furniture, artwork and lighting were funded by the League of Friends.

Dr Chris Morton, local GP and vice-chairman of the Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, said the hospital had “exceeded expectations”.

But he added that the two new GP practices on the site still needed to be developed.