Royal reception for hospital staff

Members of staff from the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Swindon were amongst those who had the opportunity to meet King Charles III recently at a reception held at Buckingham Palace.

Mark Doblas, Lead Clinical Practice Facilitator for International Nursing and Sarang Thacker, a midwife from the RUH and Alicia Messiah, Equality Lead Nurse and Antonella Iarrobino, Clinical Practice Educator, from GWH were among 400 nurses and midwives to join The King as he celebrated his 75th birthday, along with the 75th birthday of the NHS.

The event celebrated the contribution of international nurses and midwives working in the NHS over the decades.

Mark said: “It was surreal to get the invitation and I got more and more excited leading up to the event. I came to this country five years ago and have worked in the RUH ever since. Shaking hands with The King fulfilled a childhood dream and will be forever stored in my memory.”

Sarang said: “It was wonderful to see The King acknowledging the care and contribution that colleagues bring to the NHS and the country as a whole. He seemed so very kind and patient. Shaking so many hands, while looking genuinely interested. He thanked so many people for what we do.