News
Prince William visits the Royal Marsden Hospital and meets staff, patients and volunteers
6th May 2008
Prince William visited the Royal Marsden Hospital today and met staff who helped evacuate patients from a fire that ripped through the institution four months ago.
As President of the hospital, Prince William visited in January soon after the fire, to meet staff and patients and to praise the heroic efforts of nurses, doctors, ambulance crew and other hospital staff who helped carry the patients from the burning building.
More than 150 patients and about 200 staff were evacuated from The Royal Marsden and many were treated at the nearby Royal Brompton Hospital. Click here to read the story.
Today, Prince William was visiting to see the new endoscopy unit, to meet staff and patients and to meet hospital volunteers at a reception.
The Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was the first hospital in the world dedicated to cancer treatment and research into the causes of cancer, and today is Europe’s largest cancer centre. More than 40,000 patients are seen at its sites in London and Sutton each year. The Trust provides inpatient, day care and outpatient services for all areas of cancer treatment.
After being welcomed back by Kelly Palmer, Chief Executive of the Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust, the Prince joked that it was a relief to see there were no firemen standing in the lobby.
The hospital Chief Executive Kelly Palmer said: "It is really good to have the Prince back here meeting our fire heroes who played such a large part in the evacuation and also to show how much progress we have made in the last four months."
The Prince heard from Dr Desmond Barton, a surgeon in gynaecological oncology, who described how he had to stop operating on a patient after smoke began pouring through the ventilation system.
"We took the patient to the Royal Brompton Hospital and completed the operation two days later. When we smelt the acrid, pungent smell of smoke we knew we had to leave the building as quickly as possible."
Mr Chris Nutting, head of the head and neck unit, and Gerry Vella, estate manager for the Royal Marsden Hospital, told how doctors and nurses had helped patients get down the stairs and out of the building.
Mr Nutting said: "Some of the patients were being carried down the spiral staircases on mattresses. The firemen did the heavy lifting but the doctors and nurses were at their side making sure the patients were comfortable."
The Prince visited the medical centre's new endoscopy unit and before holding a private meeting with patients.
Following the visit, Prince William attended a reception for The Friends of The Royal Marsden Hospital at The Chelsea Gardener, Sydney Street, London.
Formed in 1963, The Friends of The Royal Marsden is a group of volunteers who help in the hospital, hold fundraising ventures and operate a free library for patients.
At the event he spoke to Antoinette Pardo, Chairwoman of the group, whose members raise funds and volunteer at the hospital.
She said: "We are very grateful that William has taken the time not only to visit the hospital but also to come to our party tonight.
"The volunteers worked incredibly hard to support the hospital's services like the shop and the out-patients' canteen."