Happy 73rd Birthday NHS – it’s time to say thank you

Wednesday 30 June 2021

This weekend, we want to say a big thank you to all our key workers, to celebrate 73 years since the founding of the NHS on 5 July.

The past year has seen the NHS faced with the challenge of a lifetime, and so many colleagues continue to work hard in the fight against Covid-19. Hospitals have cared for around 400,000 seriously ill Covid patients, while the NHS and its partners have been delivering the largest vaccination programme in our history.

While this past year has been challenging, it has also been a year of great hope – and we want to celebrate this anniversary by saying thank you to everyone who made these achievements possible.

Dr Mark Dornan, a local GP and Clinical Chair of NHS Newcastle Gateshead Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said:

“Over the past year, everyone in the health and care system has made incredible efforts to keep us safe, and we owe them all a huge thank you.

“I’d personally like to thank everyone in our NHS community – nurses, cleaners, carers, doctors, volunteers and every other key worker helping us all. You have been amazing and achieved so much!”

This year also sees the return of The NHS Big Tea on 5 July. This is a chance for communities to come together to thank NHS staff and each other for the huge role they have played over the last year.

At 3pm on 5 July, why not join in a national tea break, and raise a mug of collective thanks to every clinician, nurse, support worker, hospital porter and paramedic who’s put themselves on the line this year to keep us and our loved ones safe.

You can join in the virtual event online or sign up to host your own Big Tea event here.

On Sunday 4 July, the eve of the NHS’s birthday, we’re encouraging everyone to celebrate a national Thank You Day, to recognise and celebrate the work of our NHS staff, as well as all key workers and the many others in our communities who have helped us through a tough year.

You can find out more about Thank You Day and find more details of events in your local area here.