One hundred years after King George V and Queen Mary visited Whipps Cross Hospital to officially name it, staff celebrated the milestone with another Royal visit.

The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, was at the Leytonstone hospital on Tuesday, November 14 to unveil a centenary plaque and meet with patients and their families in the children’s unit.

After chatting with 14-year-old Adam Marshall who rang a bell marking the end of his cancer treatment she later tweeted it was “an honour” to be part of the occasion.

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Eileen White, Director of Care at Haven House which works in partnership with Whipps, said: “We are delighted that families supported by our Teenage Cancer Group were able to meet the Duchess of York and she spent time hearing about how we work to provide clinical, social and emotional support for children and young people following a cancer diagnosis.”

The weeklong celebrations also saw a new ambulatory care unit opened by MP Iain Duncan Smith and MP John Cryer and the launch of a new staff awards scheme.

The unit which has been expanded from one treatment bay to five aims to reduce A&E waiting times by providing quick tests and scans.

Mr Cryer said: "Hospitals can be scary places but when I'm at Whipps Cross I feel at home.

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The Duchess of York with cancer patient Adam Marshall.

“The staff generate a warm, welcoming atmosphere - it's a great hospital.

“Increasingly, local people tell me that things are getting better, and you can see it all around you."

Mr Duncan Smith added: "The staff and all the new stuff is all just fantastic.

“Huge changes have taken place to give people the best care - the hospital has a strong future."

The We Care scheme saw seven individuals and teams across the hospital awarded with hampers at a party complete with birthday cake.

During the week of celebrations the hospital announced a £6.8m funding package from Barts Charity to build Europe’s largest maternity unit.

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MP John Cryer and MP Iain Duncan Smith cut the ribbon on the new ambulatory care unit.

For retired nurse Eibhlish McCourt, 83, who worked at the hospital during the 50s, it was the second time she got to shake hands with a Duchess.

She said: “I was here when the Duchess of Gloucester visited in 1952 and for the Royals to keep visiting just shows how important the hospital is.

“It’s an incredible hospital and a big part of the community so it’s great that it’s recognised.

“When I was here our matron, Ms Fogarty, had a corgi that would accompany her on the wards.

“Ms Fogarty was a formidable character; she didn’t take any prisoners.

“Her corgi was somewhat of a blessing because he would normally run ahead of Miss Forgarty to the wards and when we saw him, someone would shout ‘matron on the way, matron on the way” which would give us a little more time to prepare for her arrival.”

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Patients and staff are pictured in ward in Whipps during 1949.

Alwen Williams, Chief Executive of Barts Health NHS Trust said: "As we mark the centenary of Whipps Cross I am so proud to reminisce about all it has achieved over its 100 years.

“I am very proud of the hospital and as we look to its future it means so much to be celebrating the fantastic services provided here by such dedicated staff."