University centre honours first black NHS matron

The Daphne Steele building forms part of the university's National Health Innovation Campus

A new university building in Huddersfield has been named in honour of the first black matron in the NHS.

Born in Guyana, Daphne Steele was as “trailblazing” figure in UK healthcare, working in London, Manchester and Oxfordshire before being appointed as matron of St Winifred's maternity home in Ilkley in 1964.

The six-storey Daphne Steele Building, which features state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for midwifery and nursing, was officially opened at the University of Huddersfield’s National Health Innovation Campus.

Chancellor Sir George Buckley said he was "humbled" that Ms Steele's family had allowed them to name the building after her and hoped it would "inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals".

Daphne Steele's son, Robert, attended the opening ceremony with the university's vice chancellor Professor Bob Cryan, chancellor Sir George Buckley, Department of Health and Social Care minister MP Karin Smyth, medical expert, broadcaster and visiting professor Dr Sarah Jarvis, and Huddersfield MP Harpreet Uppal

Sir George added that Ms Steele was "a true pioneer of healthcare" and said she was "renowned for her expertise, care and compassion, which are all as relevant now as they were when she was working in the NHS."

Ms Steele's son, Robert, attended the official opening and said after seeing drawings of the building "to be here in the flesh has surpassed everything I thought it would be".

"Looking at some of these cutting-edge facilities, getting a feel for how this will affect the local community, training the next generation of healthcare professionals, underlines that it is a truly wonderful resource," he added.

The building features equipment and facilities for the University's midwifery, nursing, occupational therapy, operating department practice, paramedic science, physiotherapy, podiatry and speech and language therapy courses, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

MP Karin Smyth, Department of Health and Social Care minister, said naming the building after Ms Steele paid tribute to the "countless contributions of migrant workers who have played a crucial role in the NHS since its creation".

In February, a blue plaque was unveiled at the former St Winifred's maternity home in Ilkley - the first official blue plaque outside London

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