Nurses swarm Harry on visit to UK children’s hospital
Prince Harry was attacked by nurses while visiting a children’s hospital where he spoke about the “financial challenges” facing the UK’s National Health Service.
Harry toured Birmingham Children’s Hospital to celebrate 20 years of the charity WellChild’s specialist nursing programme, helping seriously ill children and their families transition from hospital to home.
The Duke of Sussex’s appearance caused excitement in the hospital corridors as nurses and other medical staff surrounded him and hugged a female doctor.
Families asked for photos and Harry posed for a group photo with about a dozen nurses, telling them: “Thank you for everything you do.”
Harry was there to meet two WellChild-funded nurses who facilitate the early discharge of children by teaching their parents the skills needed to provide home care, and he met some young patients.
In a lighter moment, the Duke revealed his son’s love of toy building bricks by sharing stories with 12-year-old Alec Hill and his family.
“You know who’s obsessed with Lego? My son Archie – and he’s a master builder,” said Harry, who is said to be planning to bring his young son and daughter to see their grandfather the King later this week.
The duke, who is WellChild’s boss, told a room of the charity’s managers, nurses and families: “I don’t know if you’ve heard this enough: The difference you make every day literally changes daily lives.”
He added: “I understand and we understand that this is getting harder every week with the cuts and the financial challenges… there is a madness going around, not just in this country but in general.
“But hospitals like this don’t work without people like you, and families like this can’t be the families they want to be at home without the expertise and skill set you pass on to them, and WellChild is at the heart of that.”
Harry’s week-long trip to the UK has sparked scrutiny over his accommodation arrangements following a public dispute with Buckingham Palace over royal suite offers and whether he will meet King Charles.
The duke told parents supported by WellChild that he hoped the government, the NHS and the partnership with WellChild would provide “more opportunities for you to make your lives easier”.
“We can’t solve everything, but what we can do is make sure your lives are more comfortable and you’re educated so you can take your kids home and not be stuck in the hospital.”
The room burst into laughter when he joked about hospital food: “Not because the food is bad, although that might be a reason, but actually so you can have a family life.”
Harry spoke just before cutting a raspberry and white chocolate sponge cake to celebrate 20 years of WellChild nurses, joking: “I haven’t cut a cake in a very long time” as he debated where to put the knife.
Football was discussed when Harry met 12-year-old Alec Hill, who has a rare chromosomal and immune system disease, and his caring parents.
The duke told him: “I was an Arsenal supporter. Who do you support?” When the little boy replied to Aston Villa, Harry said: “Aston Villa, my brother supports Aston Villa” and talked about the club’s Europa League triumph earlier this year.
The Duke had positive words for the schoolboy, telling him: “You have been through a lot and have really worried your mother and father, you now appear to be on the road to recovery; get you out of this hospital as soon as possible.”
