In a remarkable display of solidarity and gratitude, nearly 40 prominent locations across the North East and Yorkshire will be adorned in blue on Wednesday, July 5th, to commemorate the 75th birthday of the National Health Service (NHS).
This dazzling celebration will include landmarks such as York’s historic city walls, the Millennium and Tyne bridges, town halls, iconic lighthouses at Seaburn and Whitley Bay, Leeds First Direct Arena, and The Deep at Hull.
Richard Barker CBE, the Regional Director for NHS North East and Yorkshire, expressed his delight at the overwhelming response from both public and private sector organisations in the region. “It’s wonderful to see such a strong response from public and private sector organisations across our region, who wish to join in an eye-catching display of support for the NHS in its 75th year,” Barker stated.
Come Wednesday evening, an array of places including shopping centres, town halls, bridges, landmark office buildings, NHS hospitals, historic city walls, and town squares will transform into splendid beacons of blue, illuminating the night sky in honour of the NHS birthday.
Mr. Barker encouraged individuals to capture and share photographs of the evening’s spectacle on social media using the hashtags #LightUpBlue and #NHS75. Furthermore, he urged them to tag @NHSNEY in their social media posts.
A comprehensive list of public buildings and landmarks in the region, which have confirmed their participation in the “Light Up Blue” event on the evening of July 5th, can be accessed on the NHS North East and Yorkshire website.
Additionally, this week marked the unveiling of five winners of a photography competition held to celebrate 75 years of the NHS. Hosted at the FUJIFILM House of Photography, the competition featured two winners from the North East & Yorkshire region.
Wasim Baqir, hailing from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, emerged victorious in the ‘Our Innovations’ category, which honours the NHS’s innovative practices, ranging from cutting-edge treatments to groundbreaking methods of care delivery. Baqir’s winning photograph, captured on Christmas Eve 2020, portrays used vaccine vials carefully placed within an orange sharps bin.
In the ‘Our Care’ category, Ewa Gasior, affiliated with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, was announced as a winner for her photograph titled ‘We’ve got you. You’ve got this.’
To explore more about the extensive range of events and activities planned for the NHS’ 75th Birthday, interested individuals can visit the NHS Birthday webpage.
The nation eagerly awaits the grand illumination that will serve as a poignant reminder of the NHS’s immeasurable contributions to the health and well-being of the people it serves, and the eternal gratitude felt by all.
