Royal opening for cancer centre

The cancer treatment centre is one of the largest in Europe

A new £220m cancer centre at a hospital in Leeds has been officially opened by the Princess Royal.

Princess Anne was shown around the Institute of Oncology at St James's University Hospital and met patients and some of its 1,600 staff.

It is one of the largest specialist cancer treatment centres in Europe.

In January 2005, the princess opened the Wharfedale Hospital, another part of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals' estate.

Martin Buckley, chairman of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said before the visit: "I am absolutely delighted that we will be welcoming the princess back to the trust on what will be the most important date in our recent history.

This cancer centre has long been an aspiration of doctors, nurses and everyone involved in the health service Trust chairman Martin Buckley

"She will have the chance to meet some of our patients and staff and to see for herself the extremely impressive facilities in the new institute."

Thousands of patients have already been treated in the nine-storey centre which has been open since Christmas.

Mr Buckley said: "This cancer centre has long been an aspiration of doctors, nurses and everyone involved in the health service across the county.

"Its opening provides a notable milestone in this the tenth year of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals."