Occupational Therapy News OTNews March 2020 | Page 9

NEWS
Royal seal of approval for intermediate care centre
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal opened the
new Meadowgate Intermediate Care Centre in Eston
in North Yorkshire.
The Princess Royal, who is patron of RCOT, met
staff and residents on a tour of the new £5 million
centre, which is designed to help people recover and
regain their independence after a hospital stay and
prevent hospital admissions. The new 40-bed centre
includes a reablement unit, an assessment and
recovery unit and an independent living centre.
Following the tour, Her Royal Highness unveiled
a plaque to mark the official opening of the new
building, which was completed in November 2019.
Professor Diane Cox, RCOT chair of council,
said: ‘This new centre adds to the great facilities and
excellent examples of frontline occupational therapy
services in Redcar and Cleveland Borough. This
visit has highlighted the vital impact occupational
therapists here and nationally have on people’s
lives, and the role occupational therapists play in
preventing often lengthy hospital admissions for
people, and reducing pressure on services. They
are improving lives and saving money for the public
purse on a daily basis.’
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal meets staff and service users
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