The new surgical centre at Southmead Hospital will be named in honour of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal

The centre, which has seen its first patients having operations over the last week, will be known as The Princess Royal Bristol Surgical Centre.

It is a joint project between North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW), which make up the Bristol NHS Group.

The dedicated centre for planned surgery has four theatres that will be used for NBT and UHBW patients.

It will also increase capacity across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire by freeing up theatres in the two main hospitals, bringing about 6,900 more operations a year across the area.

The first patients were seen at the centre in July, with consent clinics held as part of the phased opening.

Inpatients from the Orthopaedic Ward – 7B - in Southmead Hospital’s Brunel building were moved into the centre on 22 August and the first operations took place on 26 August.

The number of operations in the Princess Royal Bristol Surgical Centre will increase over the coming weeks as it builds up to full capacity.

Her Royal Highness spent time at Southmead Hospital in June 2024 after an incident on the Gatcombe Estate and later returned to meet staff involved with her care.

Bristol NHS Group Chief Chair, Ingrid Barker, said: “We are delighted that Her Royal Highness has agreed to us naming the centre in her honour.”

Group Chief Executive, Maria Kane, added “The Princess Royal Bristol Surgical Centre will boost capacity for planned operations across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, helping patients access treatment faster and we are thrilled to be able to announce the name of this fantastic new facility for our population today.”