TO commemorate the National Health Service 75th birthday, the University Hospitals Bristol, and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is inviting communities to celebrate on July 5, 2023, writes Josie Cohen.

Events will be held for employees, patients and the general public to mark the NHS’ successes and honour the care they give across the Southwest.
Artist Linda Toigo has designed special 75th birthday cards that will be available in all hospitals so that patients and staff can share memories of the NHS.

Messages in the cards will be compiled into a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork that will be displayed at Weston General Hospital later this year. There is also the opportunity to add a digital message on the University of Bristol website.

On both Tuesday July 4 and Wednesday July 5, the Grand Appeal, a dedicated charity for the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, will be lighting the iconic hoops outside the children’s hospital blue.

Using hashtags #NHS75 and #LightUpBlue, you can share images of the hoops online, tagging @uhbwNHS and @thegrandappeal to further share your photos.

Across Bristol and Weston hospital sites, several live pop-up music events will be taking place on July 5.

This includes Bristol Heart Institute Atrium from 11 - 11:30am with Ruth Hammond and 1:15 – 2pm with Bethany Roberts. And also, in the Rafters Cafe in Weston General Hospital from 1 – 1:30pm with Alex Lipinski.

A roadshow will be hosted by Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity on July 5, where you can join for a slice of cake and find out about the latest projects.

From 11am to 1pm they’ll be based at the BRI, BRHC and Weston General Hospital, Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre, St Michael’s Hospital, South Bristol Community Hospital, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and the Bristol Heart Institute.

Additionally, they’ll be at Bristol Eye Hospital from 11am-12pm and Bristol Dental Hospital from 12pm – 1pm.

The skilled Discharge team are hosting a drop-in for patients and staff in the Discharge lounge, where questions can be asked. Between 8:30am – 1:30pm, there will also be a bake sale, where cakes can be purchased.

On July 8 and 9, a ‘parkrun for the NHS’ will be hosted, where thousands of people are expected to participate in NHS blue or fancy dress by running, jogging or walking 5km.

From UHBW’s medical illustration team, Simon Brinkwoth, Alice Kenny and Lucy Wilmer have been nominated as finalists for the national NHS75 Fuji film photography competition. 

They will be evaluated by a panel of prestigious judges, and the five winners will have their photo displayed at the NHS 75th anniversary service at Westminster Abbey on July 5, before being moved to a free exhibition in the FUJIFILM House of Photography until the end of August.

UHBW aims to unite communities and express gratitude to the NHS for its diligent and persistent efforts through bringing everyone together.