BASINGSTOKE hospital had a royal visit yesterday as the Duke of Cambridge saw first-hand how military personnel are being integrated into the working environment of the hospital.

The Wednesday afternoon visit from his Royal Highness, Prince William, was to see how the ‘Step into Health’ programme – an initiative created by the NHS, the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Walking With the Wounded (WWTW) – is being implemented at the hospital, meeting current participants and graduates.

Crowds gathered outside the hospital as the Duke was greeted by nurses and other hospital personnel, before Julia Watling, National lead for Step into Health, showed him around the facility.

The idea of the scheme, which is open to all service leavers and veterans, is to provide a pathway from the military into many different areas of the NHS.

As patron of the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William acts as an ambassador for the charitable vehicle, which invests and acts in partnership with organisations to provide better resources and knowledge.

To find out more about the programme, please visit militarystepintohealth.nhs. uk