Prince William has paid tribute to the incredible sacrifices of everyone in the NHS for their “relentless” efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Duke of Cambridge today welcomed 28 specially selected health service staff to Buckingham Palace, from nurses to cleaners, care workers to caterers, for the ‘Big Tea’ event on the 73rd anniversary of the NHS.
After being made joint patrons of NHS Charities Together last December, William and wife Kate came up with the idea of holding a special event to give thanks to the frontline heroes on behalf of the nation.
The organisation became a household name during the pandemic following the efforts of the late Captain Sir Tom Moore, the Second World War vet who raised nearly £39million by doing 100 laps of his garden in Bedfordshire last year.
Fitness guru Joe Wicks raised a further £580,000 when he became the nation’s PE teacher by holding online keep fit classes for children under lockdown throughout the pandemic.
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Thousands more people from across the UK raised money through fundraising events despite the covid lockdowns, raising more than £150million for good causes.
Around £125million has already been allocated to healthcare organisations including local hospital trusts and mental health programmes.
The Duke had to attend the engagement solo after wife Kate, 39, was forced to self isolate when she was notified on Friday that someone she had previously come into contact with was diagnosed with coronavirus.
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William more than made up for it by chatting to guests for an extra 30 minutes this afternoon as he moved around five tables that had been laid out in the back garden of the Queen’s London home.
The monarch had given the Cambridges permission to plan the event at the start of the year, heralding a small return to garden parties that have been cancelled since the crisis began.
William told them: “I am delighted you could all come here and thank you. What you guys are doing on a daily basis is just extraordinary, I don’t know how you all keep it up, it’s been truly relentless.”
The gathering was one of hundreds up and down the country after more than 5,000 people applied to hold their own Big Tea party in local streets, schools, sport clubs and churches as a way of thanking their local community heroes on the 73rd anniversary of the NHS.
The Duke met Tony Larks, a volunteer First Responder Volunteer from Bracknell who told him how he was faced with saving a person who suffered a cardiac arrest on his first ever shift.
Tony, 48, joined South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) as a Community First Responder Volunteer in 2020 in response to the Covid pandemic.
Over the last year he has clocked up nearly 1000 hours of voluntary service as a Community First Responder and has attended over 250 emergency incidents, while also working full time as a graphic designer.
He said: “I saw an advert on Facebook at the start of the pandemic and right then I knew I had to do something to help.
“The Duke was really interested in the role, having been in the emergency services himself I could tell he had a real passion for it.
“He asked what it was like on a day to day basic juggling two roles, but I joked it was just an excuse to get out of the house.
“But it has given me a different perspective on life and being able to help people in my local community is such a rewarding role. It's something I won’t look back on and will keep doing it as long as I am needed.”
Asking Tony about the mental health provisions in his role, William said: “The immense pressure you are dealing with, but it’s fantastic you are able to help out in such a way.
Asked about his day out at the Queen’s residence, he added: “I never imagined when I signed up to be a first responder that I’d be having tea at Buckingham Palace.
“It’s been truly amazing to have met Prince William today and to recognise the amazing work of the NHS.
“I’m honoured and humbled to have the opportunity to work alongside NHS heroes and the work they do daily. It's truly incredible.
Earlier in the day, the Duke attended a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, to celebrate the NHS’ contribution to the country during Covid-19.
Representatives from NHS Charities Together told the future king how they have already distributed £125million from £150million raised last year, going towards local community groups.
Michelle Butler, a Specialist Behaviour Support Practitioner at Sussex Partnership Trust, told how people with learning disabilities continue to be some of those most impacted by the pandemic.
During the first months of 2020 as them pandemic was spiralling out of control, Michelle took on the task of coordinating over 600 Mental Health Isolation boxes, which were delivered across Sussex and Hampshire to adults and children using mental health services, women’s refuges, young offenders, older people with dementia and people with learning disabilities.
The packs contained a wealth of distraction activities to support people facing the challenges of lockdown and to show them that someone was thinking of them, at a time when people were feeling incredibly isolated and often frightened.
Michelle ordered everything for the boxes, had it delivered to her house, packed and co-ordinated all the boxes and organised their delivery – even getting plain clothed police officers to deliver to women’s refuges.
William said: “Such a fantastic effort, it is community champions like you who have made all the difference.
“The mental health aspect of the crisis, it can’t be underestimated and it’s so important.”
Michelle said: “I have supported people with learning disabilities for 22 years and they are some of those most impacted by the pandemic, facing the complete disruption of their support networks and the challenge of understanding changing Covid restrictions.
“The packs contained a wealth of distraction activities to support people facing the challenges of lockdown and to show them that someone was thinking of them, at a time when people were feeling incredibly isolated and often frightened.
“The feedback we received was absolutely amazing and shows what brilliant things can be achieved when we work together as charities and NHS teams.”
The Duke also met Suman Shrestha who trained to be a nurse in 1997 and became the first Nepalese male nurse in the country.
He has worked in intensive care at Frimley Park Hospital since 2001 and during the pandemic, on top of caring for Covid patients, he also trained more than 400 redeployed doctors and nurses so they could help in Intensive Care.
Suman, who like others in attendance was nominated by his colleagues, said: “I am definitely one of the lucky ones today but each and every one of my colleagues is an utter hero, particularly after working through both waves of Covid.
“I’ve worked in Intensive Care for 20 years and it has been the most challenging, worrying time ever.
“I am fortunate to work with a fantastic group of individuals, I couldn’t have got through it without them so I am honoured to be representing them at the palace.”
NHS Charities Together is the umbrella organisation made up of 240 NHS member charities based within hospitals, mental health trusts, ambulance trusts, community health trusts and health boards across the UK.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge became Joint Patrons of NHS Charities Together in December 2020.
Ellie Orton OBE, CEO of NHS Charities Together said: “On the day that the George Cross medal was awarded to the NHS it is extra special to be here.
“These people and their colleagues are the pride of the country. They have all sacrificed so much and it’s right that we celebrate them as a nation for everything they have done.”
As The Mirror revealed last June, the royals wanted to show their appreciation for the sacrifices of so many of the frontline staff who have battled daily with the coronavirus crisis.
The Queen who has been living and largely isolating at Windsor Castle since last March gave her permission for it to be held at her London home.
