Staff across NHS Birmingham and Solihull have been coming together to mark the 75th anniversary of the National Health Service.
Since it was first established on the 5 July 1948, the NHS has constantly evolved and today treats 1.3 million people a day in England.
In Birmingham and Solihull, this special milestone was marked through a series of events to thank staff for their dedication to the NHS.
On Wednesday 5 July 2023, some staff were invited to attend two special events in London to mark NHS75.
Michelle Ramkissoon, clinical lead nurse for HMP Winson Green and Dr Aftab Arif, a GP Partner for one of Birmingham’s largest GP practices Hall Green Health and also a Medical Director at NHS Birmingham and Solihull, were amongst a select group of guests invited to a reception at 10 Downing Street attended by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and other political leaders.
Meanwhile, 10 staff from NHS Birmingham and Solihull joined a multi-faith service to mark NHS75 at Westminster Abbey, which was attended by 2,200 NHS staff, volunteers and partners – as well as their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Of the occasion, Mustak Mirza – NHS Birmingham & Solihull Integrated Care Partnership Citizen Representative - said: "I feel beyond privileged to have been part of such an extremely special service to commemorate this significant milestone for the NHS.
“The NHS has been transformative to my life. As someone who was once a poor boy living in India, I am immensely proud to now play a role in helping to shape the NHS to improve services and ensure the voices of our communities are heard."
(Pictured above: Dr Sunando Ghosh inside Westminster Abbey)
Meanwhile, special tea parties were held for staff as a small way of thanking them for their continued hard work and dedication.
Staff enjoyed cake, conversation and music, courtesy of a local student cellist. The tea parties gave the opportunity for staff to share their stories and memories about working for the NHS and what it means to them. You can read and watch some of their reflections here.
(Pictured above: Left: David Melbourne, CEO of NHS Birmingham and Solihull. Right: Patrick Vernon, Interim Chair of NHS Birmingham and Solihull and staff member cutting the cake.)
Support for the NHS was shared by the community, including Councillor Mariam Khan, Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, alongside the University of Birmingham which also lit up its iconic Old Joe clock tower blue to celebrate the milestone anniversary. Other buildings to light up blue included the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital and the Library of Birmingham.
On the 8 and 9 July, staff from across NHS in Birmingham and Solihull took part in their local parkrun. Participants walked, jogged or ran the 5K at Edgbaston Reservoir in Birmingham and Brueton Park in Solihull to celebrate this major milestone in the NHS’s history.
NHS Birmingham & Solihull’s Chief Executive David Melbourne said: “NHS colleagues across the country have been marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the NHS. It’s remarkable to think that, when it was founded in 1948, the NHS was the first universal health system to be available to all, free at the point of delivery. Fast forward to today, the NHS treats over a million people a day in England, and it’s safe to say that the Service touches all of our lives. Thank you to all of our colleagues past and present across Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System.”