NHS 70th birthday celebrated in style

Staff and patients celebrated the 70th birthday of the NHS in style today (Thursday 5 July 2018).

Celebratory events were held at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, all in Oxford, as well as at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Thanks to the generous support of Oxford Hospitals Charity, no NHS funds were spent on these events.

Staff and patients attended NHS Big7Tea events where strawberries and cream were served up - and of course no birthday party is complete without a cake.

Staff who have worked in the NHS for decades were joined by colleagues who have only started their careers in the health service to do the honours and cut 70th birthday party cakes on all our hospital sites.

Peter Knight, Chief Information and Digital Officer, speaking at the Churchill Hospital event, said: "I would like to thank all our staff who every day provide a fantastic level of care to our patients.

"If you have worked in the NHS for as long as I have, you will know the NHS is the crown jewel in this country's assets and one of the things to be prized."

NHS 70th birthday balloons and bunting decorated hospital sites to make the day feel special, while some of our staff even wore 1940s nursing uniforms to mark the occasion.

Hundreds of heartfelt messages of gratitude for the NHS were hung up on BBC Radio Oxford's Tree of Life at the John Radcliffe's main reception, and an eye-catching exhibition of images from the archives is now on display at all four main hospital sites.

Search #OUHNHS70 on social media and visit www.ouh.nhs.uk/nhs70 to see pictures from the day.

Pictured: Staff from Paediatric Critical Care with one of our celebration cakes at the John Radcliffe Hospital.