NHS marks 75 years

5 July 2023 marks 75 years of the National Health Service (NHS).

Treating over a million people a day in England, the NHS touches all of our lives. 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.

Since its establishment, the NHS has always evolved and adapted to meet the needs of each successive generation. From Britain’s first kidney transplant in 1960, to Europe’s first liver transplant in 1968. From the world’s first CT scan on a patient in 1971, revolutionising the way doctors examine the body, to the world’s first test-tube baby born in 1978. Even more recently – the incredible efforts to deliver the rollout of the first accredited COVID-19 vaccine in the world.

All the partners marked a very special birthday this week. 

Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales surprised NHS staff and patients with a very special NHS Big Tea party held in the wellbeing garden of St Thomas’ Hospital – a wellbeing initiative funded by Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity.

Hosted by NHS Charities Together – the national charity caring for the NHS, of which Their Royal Highnesses are Patrons – and television presenter Mel Giedroyc, the event was attended by members of the workforce and patients representing myriad achievements of the NHS and NHS charities over the last 75 years.

The Prince and Princess met with guests ranging from Aneira Thomas, the first baby born on the NHS, to pioneers in research and those on the frontline during COVID-19. The guest list honoured staff past and present, including three generations of NHS workers from one family – inspired by grandmother and former nurse of nearly 50 years, Blanche Hines, who was part of the Windrush generation.

Their Royal Highnesses discussed current challenges and thanked staff for the work they continue to do.

                                                                                    The previous day Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Evelina London Children’s Hospital for a tea party where he met staff, patients, and their families. 

And there was even an extremely special visit from some four-legged friends. Rosie is one of the therapy dogs who attendees were delighted to meet.                                                                                    

King’s College Hospital NHS FT marked NHS 75 with a visit from Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh to the brand-new King’s Academy. 

The Duchess was given a tour of the new facility by Prof Clive Kay, Chief Executive of King’s College Hospital NHS FT, and Tracey Carter, Chief Nurse and Executive Director of Midwifery at the Trust. 

Her Royal Highness also met NHS staff who will use the facility, and saw first-hand the type of training that will take place in the King’s Academy, including taking blood, and resuscitation.

She finished the day by cutting a special birthday cake.                                                                   

The new King’s Academy provides dedicated simulation, teaching and conference rooms, as well as educational facilities. It will be used by many of the Trust’s 8,000 nurses, midwives and AHPs, and also be used by healthcare professionals from others part of London and the south east. Find out more about these ambitious plans.

The Trust also shared a throwback photo to 1953 with a visit by Queen Elizabeth II.

King’s College Hospital in Denmark Hill is also the birthplace of Queen Camilla, who was born at the Hospital almost a year before the NHS’s establishment.                                                              

At South London and Maudsley NHS FT, Chief Executive, David Bradley, looked back on The Trust’s own history and his thoughts for the future. Back in 1948, the Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals came together as a joint hospital to enter the NHS. This united the legendary Bethlem, the oldest psychiatric hospital in Britain, and possibly the world, with the Maudsley, one of the most advanced and forward-thinking psychiatric hospitals in the country. 

Bethlem Royal Hospital is also home to the free Bethlem Gallery – which provides a platform for artists who are in or have experienced mental health services. NHS England CEO Amanda Pritchard has chosen to display works from the Gallery in her office.

David also reflected on the importance of joining up research and treatment. The Trust is prioritising this through transformative programmes like the King’s Maudsley Partnership for Children and Young People, the collaboration between leading academics at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London, and through the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). Together, we host the largest group of mental health scientists and clinical academics in Europe, who are working together to advance mental health care for our south London communities and beyond.

This importance is why King's College London makes up the fourth of our partners. King’s College London is ranked in the top 25 research universities in the world. It is the largest centre for healthcare education in Europe (with more applications per place in medicine than any other) and provides education and research in the widest range of subjects allied to medicine of any London institution. For NHS 75 – the University spoke to a number of students and staff about their connection to the NHS and its importance in their lives and careers.