Hospital is given new Royal title

Bosses said there had been a wide demand for the Royal title

Derby's new multi-million pound hospital has been officially renamed as the Royal Derby Hospital.

What was the Derby City General Hospital now houses most departments, including casualty and intensive care.

The Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, the old home of the city's main emergency care services, will now be known as the London Road Community Hospital.

A dedicated bus service, named the Derby Royal, to the out of town site, begins on Thursday.

Chief executive at Derby Hospitals, Julie Acred, confirmed they had sought the Queen's permission for the Royal title to be used.

"We did consult with our members, the public and our staff over a name for the new hospital and everyone was hugely committed to keeping the 'Royal' word in our title.

"We had to apply to the Queen to use the word but that has been granted and now the title is officially in place."

Services have been moved to the Royal Derby during the past months but some clinics and outpatients services will remain at London Road, which is itself being refurbished.

A visit by a member of the Royal Family to mark the name change has yet to be confirmed.