Today – 5 July 2023 – marks 75 years of the National Health Service.
More than a million people a day in England are treated by the NHS and the organisation hailed as a “national treasure” touches all of our lives.
When it was founded back in 1948, the NHS was the first universal health system to be available to all, free at the point of delivery.
Over the decades the NHS – and its dedicated staff – have innovated and adapted to meet to needs of each generation, spearheading new treatments across the decades.
Now, 75 years on, the NHS’s founding principles remain as relevant today as they were then, and surveys show that people agree the NHS makes them proud to be British.
As we mark this important landmark in the NHS, it is a time to celebrate our past, but more importantly, a time to think about a future where we continue to put patients first.
Thank you to all of our staff and volunteers, past and present, who have made the NHS – and our Trust – what it is today.
Join us in celebrating the 75th anniversary by reading about the experiences of some of our very own NHS heroes:
- Paddy Neasham: When Paddy followed in her mother’s footsteps to join the NHS she never dreamed that her children – and husband – would be inspired to do the same.
- Diane Walker: Talented health care worker Diane has received a first class stamp of approval for a crocheted masterpiece celebrating the 75th anniversary of the NHS.
- Sarah Clarke: Life has come full circle for Sarah as the NHS celebrates its 75th anniversary – her grandparents once ran one of the first NHS hospitals while she helped plan one of the latest.
- Paul Robson: Trust colleague Paul has a double birthday to celebrate on July 5th – his own and the 75th anniversary of the NHS.
- Gill Faulding: Remarkable NHS stalwart Gill shares her birth year with our national treasure and is still working to support it.
- Dennis Bryan: Dennis has overcome huge life hurdles and is now using his lived experience to help others as a much-loved Trust volunteer.
- Alessandra Botham: Former patisserie chef Alessandra has found the perfect recipe for a brighter future after years of struggling with an eating disorder – by helping others as a peer practitioner with our Trust.
- Sam O’Leary: A chance to work behind the scenes at an ambulance workshop sparked a life-long dedication to the NHS for Trust colleague Sam.
