Royal couple visit Birmingham's new QE Hospital

The Prince of Wales met staff at the Centre for Defence Medicine

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, have visited Birmingham to take a look around the city's new "super-hospital".

The couple went to The Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the centre for armed service members injured overseas.

The £545m hospital started admitting patients last month.

It replaces Selly Oak and the old Queen Elizabeth Hospitals.

The couple spent some time chatting to staff in the reception area before the Prince went to talk to injured service personnel.

The Duchess went to Selly Oak Hospital where she met families of injured servicemen and women.

'Morale boost'

Morag Jackson, a spokeswoman for the hospital, said she thought the visit had been a morale boost for staff and armed forces' members.

"They seemed to have real affection and an interest in the work they were doing," she said.

She also said Prince Charles had seemed impressed with the new building, commenting on its sense of space and amount of natural light.

The new hospital has 1,213 beds - about the same as the combined capacity of the old hospitals - and 30 operating theatres.

Previously, armed personnel were treated at the military ward at Selly Oak.