New Royal Papworth Hospital welcomes first patients

After an epic operation, the heart of Royal Papworth Hospital's new building began beating today as it welcomed its first patients.

For the last century, the village of Papworth Everard has been the home of the pioneering site known for its heart and lung transplants.

But after a decade's planning and years building, the new £165m hospital on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus has reached a vital stage in its phased move.

Among the operations being perform on the very first day patients were admitted to the site was a cardiac procedure carried out by surgeon David Jenkins.

He got to use one of six new operating theatres.

Meanwhile patient Michael Badcock, from Soham, was the first person to try out one of the new cath labs.

There are also more than two thousand rooms and lots of state of the art equipment.

The move will continue for another week before the historic doors of the old Papworth Hospital close for the final time.