Yesterday afternoon, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Anne made their first joint official visit together to mark the opening of the new headquarters of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).
As Patron of the RCM and Patron of the RCOG respectively, the Princess and Duchess visited the new building to hear about the ways the Colleges are working together to improve maternity care in the UK.
This includes the Tommy’s National Centre for Maternity Improvement, which was formed by Tommy’s in partnership with RCOG and RCM in 2019. At yesterday’s engagement, Kate and Princess Anne met representatives from the centre, including Clinical Director Prof Basky Thilangathan, to find out the work they’re doing to make pregnancy safer for all.
What is Tommy’s National Centre for Maternity Improvement?
Tommy’s National Centre for Maternity Improvement aims to reduce the number of babies who are stillborn or born prematurely, by coming up with ways to identify who is most at risk of developing complications during pregnancy and ensuring they get the appropriate care at the right time.
The centre involves obstetricians, midwives, data analysists and behavioural scientists from leading UK universities and clinical centres. These experts are all working together with women and their families to improve maternity services across the UK and tackle inequalities in maternal health care, with the ultimate aim of giving every family the best possible chance of bringing home a happy, healthy baby.
We're delighted to see the Duchess’ and the Princess’ interest in the vital work being done to make pregnancy safer for all. You can find out more about the Royal visit here.
