Dr Chris Nutting and Prince William
After being warmly welcomed to the hospital by Chief Executive Cally Palmer, he was introduced to three members of staff who played vital roles in the evacuation of the hospital during the fire.
He met Gerry Vella, the hospital’s Estates Manager who was on duty throughout the fire, Dr Des Barton, who was performing an operation when the blaze broke out, and Dr Chris Nutting, Head of the Head and Neck Unit who helped throughout the evacuation of patients.
The Prince then went on a tour of Burdett Coutts ward, one of those that had been badly damaged in the blaze. He met Steve Scholtes, the ward’s Senior Nurse Manager, who led the tour of the ward and told him about the work that has been done since the Prince last visited.
He was introduced to Andrew Dimech, Consultant Nurse Specialist in the Critical Care Unit (CCU), Dr Orla Lacey, Consultant Anaesthetist, and Jen Watson, CCU Senior Sister who told the Prince of their experiences of the fire and the evacuation of patients.
The next part of his visit focused on the hospital’s new Endoscopy Unit which, despite the fire, has been built to schedule and, at the time of his visit, was due to open to patients shortly.
He met Professor David Cunningham, Head of the Gastro-Intestinal Unit, and Jag Grewal, Senior Sister Theatres, who led the tour of the Unit and explained that the purpose-built facility which contains state-of-the-art equipment to help in the early detection of GI cancers.
Following his tour, he then met with patients and staff on Wilson Ward for a private hour-long visit which patients said they thoroughly enjoyed.
Cally Palmer, Chief Executive, said she was delighted to welcome back Prince William: “The Prince was very interested in meeting staff who played such a vital role in the evacuation of the hospital in January and hearing their stories.
“It was also a good opportunity for him to see how work is progressing on one of the fire-damaged wards and it was fantastic to be able to show him our brand new Endoscopy Unit – a facility we are extremely proud off and that has been completed on schedule, despite the fire.”