THE past two years have not been a time for smiles at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.
Hundreds of NHS workers have made unimaginable sacrifices to treat thousands of patients during the pandemic.
As effort and attention turns to the new challenges facing hospital staff, yesterday’s visit from His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales felt like a significant moment of reflection and poignancy.
The sun shone down on the hospital grounds as Prince Charles spoke to scores of NHS staff on a royal engagement.
Following a welcome from civic dignitaries and senior hospital figures, the future king was taken on a tour of the new theatre space in the Derwent building by University Hospitals Dorset acting chief executive Paula Shobbrook.
As he made his way along outside areas of the hospital site, Prince Charles stopped to speak to nurses, doctors, porters, chefs and other key workers.
The prince met staff who went above and beyond during the first phase of the pandemic, including staying away from home for months to protect their families from Covid-19.
He also spoke to Michell Flores, who was a patient in intensive care but returned to work in the stroke unit when he recovered.
A moving morning came to an end in an emotional gathering to officially open the Lavender Garden. The garden project was funded by staff and donations to the hospitals charity to commemorate lost colleagues.
It was initially intended to commemorate two staff members who died with cancer in 2020, but it is now devoted to all employees who have died over the past two years.
The outdoor garden is intended to give staff a place to relax during difficult shifts and reflect on the difficulties of the past two years.
Professor Shobbrook said: “It's been a really special day. It's been so special to see His Royal Highness and the way that he spoke and interacted with all of our staff and the compassion that he showed.
"This Lavender Garden is particularly special because it is in memory of our dear staff that we have lost and it is a legacy to them.
"It has been great seeing His Royal Highness meeting some of their friends and family too."
She added: "Over the whole of the NHS the past two years have been extraordinary and the toll that has taken on the staff as people has been extraordinary too.
"To have this to support their wellbeing going forward is one small thing but it means a lot.
"I would like to thank all of our incredible staff for all they have done and all they continue to do, as well as everyone who donated and supported the hospitals charity to make this Lavender Garden a reality."
Mayor of Bournemouth David Kelsey told the Daily Echo: "The space here is amazing. It is fantastic for the staff to have somewhere to come and relax after what they have been through in the past couple of years.
"It's amazing that they have their own area and for the staff to have Prince Charles come down, how could it get any better?
"It is great for him to take time out of his schedule to visit the hospital, this garden and just say thank you to the staff for everything they have done.
"A real privilege for me as mayor to be here while he was here and to see this garden in the way it is now and it was all funded by voluntary donations - that's the really important part."
He added: "I talked to a lot of the staff here. They are all looking forward to getting into their new operating theatre.
"They can't wait to get back to a bit of normality in their work having gone to different roles during Covid - coming back to do what they have been trained to do.
"When you look around some of these staff have lost friends and colleagues during Covid. To see them being able to come out here and relax and talk about it is so important."
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