Nottingham buildings turn blue this weekend as NHS turns 73 | Latest news

Nottingham buildings turn blue this weekend as NHS turns 73

Some of our most iconic Nottingham buildings will turn blue this Saturday, July 3, to mark a weekend of reflection and thanks ahead of the NHS’ 73rd ‘birthday’ on Monday, July 5 .

The NHS will mark its’ 73rd year after a year like no other. It has been an extremely challenging year for the NHS and the country as a whole, but also a year of hope.

Buidings lit up blue Among the buildings to be lit up blue this Saturday are Wollaton Hall, Green’s Windmill, Nottingham Castle, the Council House in Market Square, the Queen’s Medical Centre and buildings on the City Hospital site, King’s Mill Hospital and the University of Nottingham Trent Building.

While marking all that the NHS has achieved, the lighting of buildings will also serve as a symbol of remembrance and respect for those who have lost their lives to Covid.

The run up to the NHS’ ‘birthday’ on Monday continues over the weekend with people being encouraged to take part in a national ‘Thank You Day’ on Sunday, July 4, organised by the Together Coalition.

The NHS birthday weekend is about thanking everyone, from truck drivers and cleaners to doctors and shelf stackers - all of the key workers who have kept us going in challenging times.

Has someone supported you during lockdown or at any time over the past 18 months? This could be a colleague, friend, family member, neighbour or a key worker. Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is encouraging people to share their messages of thanks on social media this Sunday using the #ThankYouDay hashtag.

Tim Guyler, Assistant Chief Executive at NUH, said: “On behalf of the NHS across Nottinghamshire I would like to say a huge Thank You to everyone involved in the historic rollout of the NHS Vaccination Programme. This was only made possible by the dedication, team work and incredible resilience of NHS staff and volunteers, partners and local communities.

"Thank you also to our patients and the wider public for continuing to help us reduce infection rates and deaths from Covid-19. By taking the vaccine, and continuing with the hands, face, space principles you are giving our hospital staff the best possible chance of keeping everyone safe, and of resuming much of the important work we put on pause in response to the pandemic”

Aquiline Chivinge MBE, Clinical Lead for Shared Governance and Inclusive Leadership at the Institute of Care Excellence, NUH said: “I would like to thank the international cohort of staff nurses who arrived just before, and during the pandemic. Arriving in a new country, without their families was very difficult for them. For their incredible hard work and sacrifices – and the fantastic patient care they have provided - we are hugely grateful”.

Professor John Atherton, Pro-Vice Chancellor for the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham, said: “We are pleased to be lighting up the Trent Building to mark the 73rd birthday of the NHS. We are proud to be such a close partner to the NHS in their clinical service and also in their education and research in the health sector.

"The last year has shown us, more than ever, how lucky we are to have such an important and effective health service, and we want to show our gratitude and pay our respects to the staff who have played such a vital role in getting the country through the pandemic.”

Councillor David Mellen, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “We’ve long known how lucky we are to have such a fantastic national institution as the NHS in this country, but perhaps the past 16 months have brought this into the sharpest focus.

“Ahead of its 73rd anniversary next week, I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you to every single person here in Nottingham who works for the NHS and who has played their part since the beginning of the pandemic last year.

“Along with all frontline workers, we owe NHS staff a huge debt of gratitude for their incredible hard work, determination, compassion and resilience in the face of one of the greatest challenges the country has faced since the Second World War.”

The weekend of remembrance, thanks and celebration will culminate with the NHS’ 73rd ‘birthday’ on Monday 5 July.

To aid the celebrations, the NHS is encouraging people to host an NHS ‘Big Tea’. You can sign up to host an NHS ‘Big Tea’ party through the Nottingham Hospitals Charity website.

Visit www.nottinghamhospitalscharity.org.uk/bigtea to find out how you can take part and raise funds. Every penny raised will be used by the Charity to support our local NHS.

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