Sophie Wessex continues volunteering amid the coronavirus pandemic by delivering fresh food and vouchers for treats to NHS nurses and midwives
- Sophie, 55, joined Nourish our Nurses, which is delivering meals to NHS workers
- The Countess of Wessex then met staff at St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey
- She took part in calls to nurses across the world for International Nurses Day
The Countess of Wessex has continued her volunteering efforts by packing food parcels for healthcare staff and meeting nurses and midwives on International Nurses Day.
Sophie, 55, joined the group Nourish our Nurses, which is delivering meals to NHS workers, before meeting staff at St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey.
It comes after the Queen's daughter-in-law took part in calls to nurses around the world with the Duchess of Cambridge to mark the day, as the royal family joined forces in a coordinated show of mass support.
The Countess of Wessex (pictured) has continued her volunteering efforts by packing food parcels for healthcare staff and meeting nurses and midwives on International Nurses Day
Sophie, 55, joined the group Nourish our Nurses (pictured), which is delivering meals to NHS workers, before meeting staff at St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey
Sophie was out and about helping the team of 16 volunteers packing and delivering 200 bags to St Peter's, and was wearing gloves as she carried large plastic bags of fruit and vegetables.
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The countess also placed golden envelopes with extra treats in some of the parcels, including vouchers for afternoon tea and beauty treatments.
She met nurses and midwives from wards across the Trust, including those from critical care, after delivering the food, standing apart from the staff to socially distance.
Sophie was out and about helping the team of 16 volunteers packing and delivering 200 bags to St Peter's, and was shown wearing gloves as she carried large plastic bags of fruit and vegetables (pictured)
Nourish our Nurses was founded by Jo-Ann Airikkala, who was inspired to start the scheme after learning of a friend's experience as a nurse in Edinburgh.
'Seeing the panic buying and empty supermarket shelves really got me thinking about our frontline NHS heroes,' Ms Airikkala said.
'Those working flat out to care for patients deserve to be looked after and provided with the ingredients for a healthy, hearty meal.'
Meanwhile, the Countess of Wessex and Kate Middleton joined together to phone hospitals in seven different countries around the world for International Nurses Day yesterday
Andy Field, chairman at Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, thanked Sophie for helping out.
'It was a real treat for some of our hard-working nurses and midwives to meet the countess and receive their food bags and golden envelopes,' he said.
Elsewhere, the Duchess of Cambridge and Sophie joined together to speak to nurses in seven different commonwealth countries, including Australia, India, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Bahamas, Cyprus and the UK.
Members of the royal family (pictured) paid tribute to the work of healthcare professionals around the world as they celebrated International Nurses' Day
While speaking with nurses in Cyprus and hearing one of their ex-partners was a school teacher, Sophie joked she would be 'recruited' for Kate's homeschooling efforts, while the Duchess added: 'I would quite like her to come and help me with homeschooling.'
They spoke to nurses via video call, with the chats being facilitated by Nursing Now, a global campaign to improve health by raising the status and profile of nursing of which The Duchess is Patron.
Kate swept her hair into a relaxed half-updo, adding a touch of glamour with a set of drop earrings.
The royal opted for a stunning midi-dress by French designer Joseph Altuzarra which she first wore in 2016 as she made the video call.
Meanwhile Sophie selected a forest green blouse and a set of gold hoop earrings as she joined Kate on the virtual visit.
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