Singer Sophie Says Thank You to Chelsea and Westminster

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New mum is star guest at Hospital Open Day

Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor was among over 1,500 people who visited Chelsea and Westminster Hospital last Saturday, May 9, for its annual Open Day.

Sophie opened The Kensington Wing, the hospital’s new private maternity unit, and said it was her way of thanking Chelsea and Westminster for the safe arrival of her two sons.

In February, Sophie gave birth to her second son, Kit, at the hospital by emergency Caesarean. Kit was born nine weeks early after doctors discovered she was suffering from the potentially life-threatening pregnancy condition pre-eclampsia.

The baby was born weighing just 2lb 6oz and spent a week being cared for in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit before he was able to go home with Sophie and her husband, The Feeling guitarist Richard Jones.

Sophie says: " I was delighted to accept an invitation to come back to the hospital to officially open The Kensington Wing as a way of saying thank you to the doctors, midwives and all the other staff who have cared for me and my family. "

Sophie’s first son, Sonny, now 4, was also born by Caesarean section at Chelsea and Westminster after Sophie was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia.

" The Kensington Wing provides the best of both worlds, private maternity care in a modern NHS hospital," says Sophie, " and it gave me peace of mind that Kit was looked after in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit after he was born so prematurely.

" I am extremely grateful to all the staff at Chelsea and Westminster for everything that they have done for us. "

All profits from The Kensington Wing are reinvested in the hospital so that the NHS benefits directly from the private maternity unit.

Councillor Joanna Gardner, Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, officially opened the Open day at 11am and other dignitaries who joined in the fun included local MPs Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Greg Hands.

Visitors were able to enjoy a wide range of attractions including behind-the-scenes tours, health advice and information, live music, exercise classes, a hospital food tasting and much, much more.

The theme of this year’s Open Day was Your hospital, your health, your say to reflect the fact that the hospital belongs to all who use its services, work at the hospital or live locally.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Open Day 2009 was supported by Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Members' Council which includes elected representatives of patients, members of the public and hospital staff.

May 12, 2009