25th September 2026
Belfast Trust staff and patients were delighted to meet The Princess Royal at the Regional Acquired Brain Injury Unit at Musgrave Park Hospital.
The Princess Royal met with Occupational Therapists under her role as Patron of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
It was an opportunity for Her Royal Highness and Occupational Therapists to celebrate the dedication, expertise and impact of the occupational therapy workforce, recognising the vital difference they make to the lives of individuals, families and communities across Belfast and Northern Ireland.
The visit also marked the 20th anniversary of the Regional Acquired Brain Injury Unit at Musgrave Park Hospital; two decades of specialist support, rehabilitation and life-changing outcomes for those affected by acquired brain injury.
Her Royal Highness was greeted by Professor Sir Michael McBride, Deputy Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast and Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland.
The Princess Royal then met with staff members from the Adult Community and Older People’s Services and Allied Health Professionals and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, as presented by Belfast Trust Chair Professor Stuart Elborn and Chief Executive Mrs Jennifer Welsh.
Ms Welsh said:
“The contribution that Occupational Therapists make can be seen across every stage of care.
“Through prevention, early intervention, and rehabilitation, occupational therapists support recovery, promote independence, and they help people remain active participants in their own lives and communities.
“In doing so, they also play an important role in supporting the wider health and social care system.”
Therapy animals are used within RABIU to aid with occupational therapy treatment plans and furry therapists Summer the therapy pony and Bramble the therapy dog were on hand to meet The Princess Royal, along with their handlers.
It is important for occupational therapists to keep up with how advances in technology can make a difference to the rehabilitation of patients, and Her Royal Highness watched an occupational therapy-designed upper limb rehabilitation programme delivered through Virtual Reality technology.
During the visit, The Princess Royal met with teams including Occupational Therapists working in neurosciences and stroke recovery, amputee and limb difference, and spinal cord injury rehabilitation.
Odeth Richardson, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Royal College of Occupational Therapists said:
“It was a privilege to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, our Patron, to see first-hand the outstanding contribution occupational therapists make across the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.
“The breadth of occupational therapy services showcased demonstrates the strength of collaborative, integrated care and the positive impact it has on individuals, families and communities across Northern Ireland.”
Her Royal Highness spoke with patients about using the Pre-Discharge Assessment Unit highlighting how this occupational therapy discharge unit promoted recovery to get service users ready to live at home.
Mr Colin McMullan, Interim Director of Adult Community and Older People’s Services and Allied Health Professionals said:
“We were delighted and honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal in meeting Occupational Therapists and some of the patients under their care.
“Occupational therapy is about more than recovery; it is about enabling people to live with independence, dignity and purpose.
“This visit was an opportunity to celebrate a profession that makes a profound difference to the lives of people across Belfast and Northern Ireland every day.”
Ten-year-old Noah Parker from Bangor was the youngest service user to meet Her Royal Highness, and he presented The Prince Royal with a posy of flowers from Horatio’s Garden, on the Musgrave Park Hospital site which supports patients with spinal cord injuries.
The Princess Royal is gifted a posy of flowers by 10-year-old Noah.