Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal has paid a special visit to the award-winning Briar Centre, recognising its leading role in brain injury rehabilitation and the transformative care it provides to patients and their families.
Located within NHS Lanarkshire’s Stonehouse Hospital, the Briar Centre has established itself as a national exemplar in specialist rehabilitation since opening.
The Princess Royal toured the purpose-built facility, met with staff, patients and families and learned about the innovative and compassionate work being delivered across inpatient and community rehabilitation.
The Princess Royal was received by the Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire Lady Susan Haughey CBE and South Lanarkshire Provost Councillor Margaret Cooper. They were joined by NHS Lanarkshire Chair, Martin Hill, Interim Chief Executive, Colin Lauder and Professor Soumen Sengupta, Chief Officer of South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership.
Her Royal Highness was introduced to the multi-disciplinary teams behind the Briar Centre’s intensive inpatient rehabilitation model. This includes allied health professionals, nurses, neuropsychologists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists, who all contribute to highly individualised rehabilitation journeys.
A highlight of the day was hearing directly from a patient Barry Mitchell and former patients Willie Cairns and Lorraine Smith, who shared their personal stories of their recovery at the centre. Her Royal Highness also visited therapy rooms, patient accommodation and the centre’s therapeutic garden — where she planted a Princess Anne Rose, symbolising growth and recovery.
Reflecting on the visit, Martin Hill said: “It was an honour to welcome Her Royal Highness to the Briar Centre and showcase the life-changing work of our staff. This visit recognises the centre’s vital role in delivering truly patient-centred care and the difference it makes to the lives of individuals and families across Lanarkshire.”
Professor Soumen Sengupta added: “The Briar Centre stands at the forefront of innovation and is a remarkable example of what can be achieved when health and social care come together with shared purpose and professionalism. This visit highlights the expertise, empathy and innovation that underpin the care we offer — and celebrates the hope and progress that the centre brings to those living with brain injuries.”
The tour was led by Jane-Marie Stobie, Allied Health Professional Consultant for Brain Injury Rehabilitation. She added: “Our holistic approach to rehabilitation brings together inpatient care, community support and vocational rehabilitation, ensuring patients care tailored to their very particular needs throughout their entire recovery journey.
“Thanks to the expertise and commitment of our multi-disciplinary team, we have experienced remarkable recoveries. We have worked with patients who were unable to stand when they came in — and then literally walk out the door and back into their homes, their workplaces and their communities.”
The Briar Centre — which takes its name from the acronym Brain Injury Assessment and Rehabilitation and the resilient Briar Rose — features ten inpatient beds, a state-of-the-art rehabilitation suite, therapy kitchen, sensory equipment and a garden space designed to support holistic healing. The service provides seamless continuity of care from hospital to home, with tailored support at every stage of the rehabilitation journey.
In Lanarkshire, around 250 people each year sustain a brain injury severe enough to require specialist rehabilitation. The Briar Centre ensures those individuals can receive care closer to home, supported by a skilled and compassionate team committed to helping each patient reclaim their independence and quality of life.
