Royal visit to Charing Cross Hospital to thank NHS staff and volunteers
08 January 2026
Delivered by Imperial Health Charity in partnership with NHS Charities Together and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, the visit brought a welcome morale boost for staff and volunteers facing the ongoing pressures of the winter period.
In their role as Joint Patrons of NHS Charities Together, The Prince and Princess surprised healthcare staff and volunteers with a tea break at Charing Cross Hospital. They took time to speak with clinical teams about their experiences of working through the winter, and also met Imperial Health Charity volunteers, whose work helps to improve patient experience and ease pressure on frontline services.
During the visit, Their Royal Highnesses saw first-hand how support from Imperial Health Charity is making a difference across the hospital. They spent time at the neurorehabilitation service, which we’ve supported for many years, joining patients in one of the arts activities we fund to support wellbeing and recovery.
The visit concluded with a roundtable discussion hosted at the hospital, bringing together NHS charity leaders, trustees, policymakers and philanthropists to explore the vital role of charitable funding in the NHS. Chaired by Ellie Orton OBE, Chief Executive of NHS Charities Together, the discussion highlighted how philanthropy supports staff wellbeing, enhances patient care and drives innovation across healthcare.
Gail Scott-Spicer, Chief Executive of Imperial Health Charity, said:
“We are delighted to have been able to thank our hard-working NHS staff and volunteers with this surprise event – made all the more special by the generous attendance of their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales. Winter is a particularly challenging time for our hospital teams, so we’re proud to have been able to recognise their hard work and dedication today.
“We are also thrilled to have been able to show The Prince and Princess the difference our charity makes to staff and patients every day at our hospitals, through our arts, grants, fundraising and volunteering programmes.”
Ellie Orton OBE, Chief Executive of NHS Charities Together, added:
“We are so grateful to our Royal Patrons, TRHs The Prince and Princess of Wales, for highlighting the incredible work of the healthcare workforce, particularly over the busy winter period, and the role that NHS charities like Imperial Health Charity play in supporting them.”
Professor Tim Orchard, Chief Executive of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said:
"We were delighted to host Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales at Charing Cross Hospital and show the impact our partnership with Imperial Health Charity delivers for patients, staff and our wider community.
"It was also a lovely boost for our staff and volunteers who work so hard, and with such care, especially through the winter months when operational pressures are at their highest."
Imperial Health Charity supports all five hospitals of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, helping to create better healthcare through investment in staff, facilities, equipment, research, volunteering and patient experience.
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