Happy 73rd birthday to the National Health Service.
All of us at Mildmay would like to take the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of one of the nation’s most loved institutions, to appreciate the vital role the service plays in our lives, and to recognise and thank the extraordinary NHS staff – who are there to guide, support and care for us all, day in, day out.
The coronavirus pandemic means the NHS has been through a year like no other. It has been an extremely challenging year for the NHS, and the country as a whole.
Hospitals have cared for around 400,000 seriously ill COVID-19 patients, including more than 100,000 admitted in January alone, along with millions more besides. Mildmay is privileged to have played its part.
At the same time, the NHS has rolled out the biggest vaccination programme in health service history; the fastest in Europe and most precise in the world.
The NHS could not have achieved all this without the skill and dedication of its people, along with the support of thousands of returners, volunteers, other keyworkers and, of course, the public who played their part by following the social distancing rules.
The NHS’s 73rd birthday offers us all a chance to say a big thank you.