Happy Canada Day! Beaming Prince William and Kate Middleton video call hospital workers in British Columbia to mark the occasion
- Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took part in a video call to mark Canada Day
- Spoke to staff at Fraser Health’s Surrey Memorial Hospital, British Columbia
- Couple heard about their experiences working to combat COVID-19
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have marked Canada Day with a video call to healthcare workers.
The couple spoke to staff at Fraser Health’s Surrey Memorial Hospital, British Columbia, to hear about their experiences working to combat the Covid-19 outbreak.
Speaking from their home at Anmer Hall, Norfolk, Prince William, 38, shared his hopes of visiting the hospital in person while Kate, 38, said she has ‘huge admiration’ for ‘everything they are doing’ and asked about their mental health.
The video call was released today to coincide with Canada’s national day, which is celebrated each year on 1 July.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have taken part in a video call to mark Canada Day
The couple spoke to staff at Fraser Health’s Surrey Memorial Hospital, British Columbia, pictured, to hear about their experiences working to combat the Covid-19 outbreak
Speaking on the call, William said: ‘I just wanted to just touch base and say how proud we are of all of you and everyone on the front line who have led the way, very stoically, very bravely and put patient care right at the top of the list, and done a fantastic job.
‘So, well done to all of you, and I hope Catherine and I can come and visit you guys one day and say that to you in person.’
Kate added: ‘It’s an amazing role that you’re playing and a hugely tough one as well, so we’re in huge admiration for everything you’re doing.’
The duchess described it as ‘heartbreaking’ when she heard that a patient’s wife had sung to him from a phone held in a bag as staff did their utmost to keep loved ones connected during the crisis.
Kate said: ‘That’s heartbreaking to hear. You guys see that and feel that on a daily basis. How do you manage yourself? Are you all OK?’
Fraser Health is one of the five regional health authorities in the province, delivering hospital and community-based health services to over 1.8 million people.
During the call, William and Kate heard about the measures put in place by the Surrey Memorial Hospital, where many of the region’s critically ill Covid-19 patients were cared for, to tackle the pandemic, and the unique challenges of providing care throughout the outbreak, including the impact on staff, patients and their families.
The Duke and Duchess also discussed the impact that coronavirus has had on the mental health of frontline workers, and what the health authority is doing to help protect the mental wellbeing of their employees.
The couple specifically heard from Sandeep (Sunny) Dulai, a health care social worker at the hospital, about her experiences as an expectant mother working in the hospital during the pandemic.
Canada Day is a national holiday celebrated each year on July 1.
It marks the day the dominion of Canada was created in 1867 when the British North America Act united the British colonies of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick with the province of Canada to form a new nation.