William becomes patron of paramedics' professional body and pays tribute to their work

The Prince of Wales has praised the nation's paramedics for their dedication to working in extremely challenging situations as he became patron of their professional body.

Addressing the College of Paramedics' inaugural emergency and critical care conference in Birmingham, William likened the workforce to a "Swiss Army Knife" due to their versatility in frontline healthcare. He acknowledged the immense pressure paramedics face, saying: "Saving lives is not the only challenge you face. In your role, you are there for people in the most critical and emotional moments, having to display care and skill in highly stressful and often distressing circumstances."

Drawing from his own experience as a former air ambulance helicopter pilot, William emphasized the importance of a paramedic's ability to reassure patients, stating: "Your ability to calm the patient, to listen to their fears, to reassure them that help has arrived, is as important as the subsequent medical intervention."

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William previously served with the RAF Search and Rescue Force and later joined the East Anglian Air Ambulance, responding to emergencies before stepping down in 2017 to focus on his Royal duties. Before his address, the prince met with various conference speakers and paramedics, including Ed Griffiths, a former RAF Valley colleague who had worked with him on rescue missions.

Mr. Griffiths, now a winch-paramedic with HM Coastguard, reflected on their time together, saying: "I worked two years with him, I had a great time. It was a pleasure, honour and privilege to serve with him and to have life experiences I wouldn’t have got, had I not worked with him."

During his presentation on the pressures faced by Coastguard crews, Mr. Griffiths playfully joked about pilots, catching William's attention with the remark "it’s not as difficult as some people make it look". In his own speech, William cautioned about the risks of burnout and mental health strain associated with the job, emphasizing the importance of self-care and mutual support among crew members.