The NHS75 flag is raised at BTH
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals kicked off its celebrations of the 75th birthday of the NHS today by raising a flag at Victoria Hospital following a 75-day countdown on its social media channels.
The Trust will be marking 75 years of the NHS on Wednesday, 5 July, with a host of events taking place all week to encourage colleagues, patients and people across the area to get involved.
The NHS was founded on 5 July 1948 as the world’s first universal, free at the point of use health system. Today, it treats 1.3 million people a day in England.
In the build-up to the birthday, colleagues and patients have been sharing memories and stories of what the NHS means to them over the past 75 days.
Then among its fundraising activity, hospital charity Blue Skies is holding a 7.5mile ‘Walk for Wards’ from Clifton Hospital to Blackpool Victoria Hospital on Wednesday evening.
The main entrance at Blackpool Victoria Hospital will be lit up blue for the evening, and among the themed decorations in the main entrance are a special exhibit of items from over the years.
There’s plenty for people to get involved with elsewhere too, from joining a local Parkrun or taking part in a NHS Big Tea event.
Trish Armstrong-Child, Chief Executive at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, said: “I couldn’t be more proud or privileged to be celebrating this incredible milestone with our colleagues, patients and their families.
“I’ve enjoyed so much hearing about the way the Trust has changed as the NHS itself has changed, but also looking ahead to new ways of working and supporting our community.
“I want to thank everyone at the Trust in all our services and settings for their tireless hard work and dedication, but also our community, patients and partners for getting involved in the activities we have planned. It means so much to us to see the support.”
For more information on all the celebrations ahead of NHS 75, and how you can be involved visit the Trust’s special NHS75 webpage here or the NHS’ birthday page here.
Here are some of the ways you can get involved:
Raise a cuppa to the NHS
NHS Charities Together has made a range of useful items available for people to print out and help get into the spirit of the occasion. Click here to access bunting, signs, thank you posters and more.
Join a Parkrun
The Bafta winning CBeebies presenter, actor, author and charity ambassador, George Webster, has added his support for ‘parkrun for the NHS’, encouraging everyone taking part to wear blue on 8 and 9 July.
National light up
Iconic buildings and landmarks across the North West will light up blue to mark the NHS turning 75, including Blackpool Tower and Liverpool’s Royal Liver Building.
On 5 July, people are encouraged to take photos of the illuminated buildings and share them via social media using the hashtags: #NHS75 and #LightUpBlueNW.
Help raise money for the hospital’s charity
Click here to find out how you can support Blue Skies.
Sharing your NHS memories
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals has featured 75 amazing and inspirational stories online and on social media for the countdown to the NHS birthday by celebrating colleagues – past and present – patients and volunteers connected to the Trust. See them all here.