HCT celebrates 75 years of the NHS
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust has been very busy this week celebrating the NHS 75th birthday (also known as #NHS75), with events across the Trust and elsewhere to mark this historic occasion.
At HCT, staff have been holding celebrations of all sizes across Hertfordshire, West Essex and East of England - from happy birthday messages by our Community and School Aged Immunisation Team in Suffolk, teams holding picnics such as St Albans & Harpenden Public Health Nursing, to an all-staff bake-off at our Trust headquarters in Welwyn Garden City with some amazing NHS-themed cakes!
Additionally, staff have been tuning in to daily virtual wellbeing sessions every lunchtime this week to help colleagues and as a thank you for everyone’s hard work providing healthcare and support to our patients and families in our local communities.
You can see some of what HCT has been up to this week for NHS75 on our social media channels:
- Twitter: @hctnhs
- Facebook: @Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
- Instagram: @hctnhs
Some colleagues come from families with a long and proud history of working in the NHS having worked for a large portion of the NHS’ lifespan – like Chief Operating Officer Marion Dunstone, who has working for the NHS for more than 30 years following in her mother’s footsteps - Marion’s mother received a gold medal from Aneurin Bevan, (noted founder of the NHS!) for being the top student in her year.Listen Marion’s story here: https://youtu.be/alqf3vyGPuU
Of course celebrations were not just limited to HCT. Five lucky colleagues got the opportunity to join other NHS colleagues across the country at a special national service at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday 5 July 2023. Paul Brown, Charlotte Reynolds, Naomi Mason, Meloney Williams and Rebecca Scott had a fantastic time. Speaking about the experience they said: “It was emotional in parts with some real words of thanks, appreciation and understanding of where and how the NHS has evolved, and the current challenges.”
As if 75 years of the NHS weren’t enough reasons to celebrate this week, we were lucky enough to attend the national Parliamentary Awards on Wednesday 5 July 2023 along with our partners - the East and North Hertfordshire Hospital at Home service was nominated for a national award. Although we didn’t win we were proud to be regional winners for The Excellence in Primary Care and Community Care award category.
We were also proud to win the Improving Urgent and Emergency Care Through Digital Award at the first ever HSJ Digital Awards 2023, recognising excellence in digitising, connecting, and transforming health and care.
None of this would be possible without you, our patients, carers, partners and local communities. Thank you and Happy 75th birthday to the NHS!
