The Prince and Princess of Wales officially open the Royal

Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales officially opened the Royal Liverpool University Hospital on Thursday 12 January.

Staff gave The Prince and Princess of Wales a warm welcome to Liverpool when the couple arrived in the city to officially open the new hospital. During their visit, The Prince and Princess had the opportunity to meet with staff in the critical care unit, before heading on to meet support staff, including our healthcare assistants, overseas nurses, volunteers, mental health first aiders and colleagues from security, catering, domestics, and our porter service.

The team in critical care shared with The Prince and Princess how their new unit is benefiting patient care, compared to the previous department, which was spread out across three different floors in the old hospital. His Royal Highness also spoke with some of the nurses he had met during a video call in 2020, when he had thanked the Trust’s critical care team for their efforts in caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before leaving, The Prince and Princess of Wales met patients and members of the public who had gathered, and were presented with a posey of flowers, which included sea holly, Merseyside’s County flower, by volunteer Marjorie Jenkins. Marjorie, from Anfield, played a pivotal role in helping support with the transition to the new hospital, and currently volunteers in A&E.

Sue Musson, Chair of Liverpool University Hospitals, said: “To introduce The Prince and Princess of Wales to some of our hardworking staff and volunteers was such a privilege. It was a great boost for colleagues at the Trust to meet Their Royal Highnesses and to share their experiences, especially at a time when staff continue to work under significant pressure. I hope that The Prince and Princess enjoyed their time in our wonderful city. We are so grateful for their interest and their visit.”

It was so exciting to meet TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales. They asked me about where I trained and how long I’ve been a nurse and thanked me for what I do. It really boosted my morale.

Linda Musiniwa, Staff Nurse

It was a real privilege to meet Their Royal Highnesses. They were very genuine and interested and asked lots of questions. It was warming to feel as though they really did care about the work our staff do and the impact of COVID-19 specifically on our staff. They talked a lot about staff wellbeing and the support offered to them, that was a real focus for them.

Julie Patrick-Heselton, Matron of Critical Care Services

When Their Royal Highnesses enter the room you can feel their warmth, it was great to meet them. We felt really nervous at first, but they were really engaging with us, asking many questions and chatting to us. It was such a good opportunity for us to showcase the wonderful people we have in the Trust. It was a lasting experience for us

Roehl Gaerlan, Practice Development Nurse

I was really honoured to have the once in a lifetime opportunity and it was a privilege to meet them. It was nice to see that people recognise the work we do, and I feel very grateful. It feels like a dream come true.

Freida Sebastian, Deputy Ward Manager

The Royal Visit was so special. I met The Prince of Wales over a video call nearly three years ago, so to get the chance to meet him in person has been amazing. Their Royal Highnesses were so genuinely interested in talking to us about staff wellbeing and mental health. Everyone was over the moon to meet them.

Sarah Lawson, Critical Care Nurse

It was really lovely to meet The Prince and Princess of Wales. They were so down to earth, really engaging and wanted to listen to what everyone had to say. They were really interested to find out about the roles that the volunteers play in the hospital, and it was clear to see that they could see the value volunteering brings to different organisations.

Emily Naylor, Voluntary Services Manager