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.
We have been celebrating in our own ways at Oxleas NHS to mark the occasion alongside colleagues and our service users.
First to celebrate were colleagues past and present, who enjoyed a tea party at our Council of Governors meeting on 22 June.
Two colleagues, Misheck Saineti and Carol Haynes, were among London NHS colleagues invited on board a celebratory cruise to recognise the 75th anniversary of settler ship Empire Windrush arriving at Tilbury Docks in Essex, also on 22 June.
On 4 July, our tireless volunteers were thanked during an afternoon of fun and tea at Danson Boathouse in Bexleyheath, to mark NHS75.
On 5 July, the 75th birthday of the NHS, Oxleas NHS was represented by five colleagues who were invited to join the special celebration service at Westminster Abbey.
Juliana Frederick-James (Head of Equality and Human Rights), Craig Hill (Joint Chair of our Disability Staff Network), Lawrence Yong (Matron, Green Parks House), Kelli Rush (Mental Health Staff Network Lead) and Alex Green (LGBTQ+ Staff Network Chair) were among 1,500 NHS colleagues who sat alongside famous faces and supporters of NHS charities to pay tribute.
In addition, we have held a bring and give event, with donations going to local foodbanks and our graphic designer, Peta Miller, has been shortlisted in NHS England’s ‘Our NHS at 75’ photography competition in conjunction with Fujifilm.
Still to come, as part of the celebrations, we have committed to putting our best foot forward at this weekend’s Parkrun at Avery Hill Park in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. We’re asking colleagues and service users to join us to walk, jog or volunteer to mark the NHS’s 75th birthday. If you can’t make the Avery Hill event, there will be one happening near you – so why not sign up.
Find out more about the Avery Hill Parkrun on this flyer:
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