Arrowe Park’s £11.5m Women and Children’s Hospital was officially opened on Wednesday by the Countess of Wessex.

The new complex will provide specialist new facilities to treat women, children and young people.

Trust chairman Michael Carr said: “This visit is a wonderful acknowledgement of the contribution that our patients, staff, friends and partner organisations have made to the development of the new women and children’s hospital and the care and comfort that these facilities will provide for our patients.”

The countess met staff and patients on a tour of the hospital where she studied the new facilities at first hand.

Before leaving she unveiled a sculpture to mark the official opening.

Developments at the new hospital include an upgraded maternity ward providing new mothers with single rooms and en-suite bathrooms; a modernised delivery suite with five new delivery rooms.

The Countess also officially opened Wirral Autistic Society's new respite care centre at The Ferns in Bromborough on Wednesday afternoon.

The royal event was the culmination of three years of fundraising for the Society’s Globe-backed Home from Home Appeal.

The 1.3m state-of-the-art centre, which is the only respite service dedicated to autism, welcomed residents in July 2010 and has proved a success with families.

Fundraising officer Rick Myers said: “The visit went brilliantly and I think the Countess was really interested in the work we do here. She clearly knew a lot about it and I think everybody was very impressed with the facilities we provide.”

Raby Hall-based centre, The Ferns, offers a flexible service to families such as overnight stays, weekend breaks, emergency stays, and support at home.

For further information, visit www.autistic.org