Balloons, bunting and bake sales were just part of the North Mid celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the founding of the NHS, as patients and staff tucked into tasty treats during tea parties and reflected on what the NHS means to them, friends and family.

With the generous support of local branches of Morrison’s supermarket in Wood Green, Stamford Hill and Palmers Green, and working with North Mid Charity, we gifted ‘NHS Big Tea’ kits to teams throughout North Mid, helping set the table for colleagues to come together to celebrate what they bring to the National Health Service and get from it.

Cakes and bakes and charity fundraising

Colleagues from diverse teams as our sexual health service, finance department, and many in between, used the occasion to share cakes and bakes and to fundraise towards the North Mid Charity, which provides funding and support for North Mid patients and staff benefit.

In a short video, North Mid chief executive Dr Nnenna Osuji described her personal contemplations on what NHS75 means for her, and what the NHS stands for, while Trust chair Mark Lam spoke about the “progress and pride” he finds reflected in his encounters with patients and staff of North Mid.

Dr Osuji said:

“When I think back on the NHS’s founding father’s, Aneurin Bevan’s, dream of having a health and care system free at the point of delivery, it gives me a lot of personal pride.”

She went on to speak about the hard work still ahead to fulfil the dream of true equity in health outcomes, which underpins North Mid’s vision of providing outstanding care for all local people, and wished “a very happy birthday to our NHS, to my NHS, to your NHS” as we continue to work towards delivering this vision.

"Progress and pride"

Mr Lam echoed this ongoing journey in his birthday message to NHS North Mid. He said:

“There is no doubt that North Mid has faced challenges in its past; we can be almost certain that we will face further challenges in our future. I am confident we will continue to rise to them.”

Bringing a child-focused touch to the day’s celebrations, our award-winning play team put decorated our children’s ward’s dedicated play area with balloon statues and models, followed by an afternoon tea party for paediatric patients and parents.

Westminster Abbey and No10 Downing Street

Further afield, North Mid was privileged to be represented at a number of prestigous national NHS75 events, with four long-serving staff members flying the North Mid flag at this morning’s NHS75 service at Westminster Abbey. Later in the day, senior emergency department nurse Patricia Bell joined Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for an afternoon reception at No10 Downing Street, to mark the momentous occasion.

We are grateful to all staff, patients, partners and local community for your NHS birthday wishes, and commit to continuing to work with you over decades to come, to realise the NHS’s vision and potential.