To mark the 75th anniversary of the National Health Service, colleagues from across the Integrated Care System in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin celebrated with a series of activities and events to acknowledge our amazing staff, all of our achievements, and the NHS as a whole.  

Below we explore all the celebrations and good news stories that took place during the week of the NHS 75th Birthday, including the ‘Back to the Floor’ initiative involving senior leaders in our system, a charity bake-off, the special ceremony for the NHS at Westminster Abbey, the NHS75 ParkRun, and feel-good volunteer stories.

Monday 3 – Friday 7 July: 'Back to the Floor' 

Healthcare senior leaders from across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin went ‘Back to the Floor’ to mark the NHS at 75, working with frontline staff in roles where they started their NHS journey. Here are some of the highlights:

• Simon Whitehouse, Chief Executive at NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and qualified Physiotherapist, went to Bridgnorth Community Hospital and Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital to deliver a clinic and help with physiotherapy rounds.
• Patricia Davies, Chief Executive at ShropCom, qualified District Nurse and practising nurse, completed a shift with the North Telford District Nursing Team. 
• Claire Parker, Director of Partnerships and Place at NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and qualified Community Pharmacist, went to Conway Pharmacy in Shrewsbury to lend a helping hand during a dispensing shift.
• Claire Horsfield, Director of Operations at ShropCom, and qualified Physiotherapist, went to Bridgnorth Community Hospital to help deliver a clinic. 
• Vanessa Whatley, Director of Quality and Safety/Deputy Chief Nurse at NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and qualified Chief Nurse went to Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital to work with the Infection, Prevention and Control team.

     

 

Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 July - Charity Bake Off 

What better way to celebrate the NHS 75th birthday than with cake?! On Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 July, staff at NHS Shropshire Telford and Wrekin participated in a charity bake off at Ptarmigan House and Halesfield to raise money for NHS charities.  

Thank you to everyone who baked cakes and to all who, more importantly, ate the cake. A special shout out goes to the winners of the bake-off, Naomi Martin and Laura Case.   

    

 

Wednesday 5 July - Westminster Abbey 

NHS representatives from across NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, including NHS STW, the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) and Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (RJAH) were honoured to attend the NHS75 special service held at Westminster Abbey in London.  

Those attending were made up of staff award winners, commended colleagues from across the system and volunteers who work tirelessly to support our Integrated Care System. 

Mel Amor, a volunteer at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, said: “It was just magical and inspiring. We all felt overwhelmed in the Abbey - it was quite surreal. I think we all felt very honoured to represent SaTH at such an event.” 

Joseph Mascarenhas from the Individual Commissioning Team at NHS STW said: “It was really a great day, uplifting and a sheer privilege mingling with all the people we all see on the TV regarding NHS matters. I was proud to represent Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB.” 

Hayley Gingell, Infection Prevention and Control Assurance Lead said: “It was an absolute honour to represent RJAH at Westminster Abbey in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the NHS and sharing this day with fantastic colleagues made it an even more memorable occasion.” 

   

1. NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin
2. Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
3. Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

 

Saturday 8 July - NHS75 ParkRun  

On Saturday 8 July, staff from NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and the Robert Jones and Agnus Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital grabbed their running shoes to show their support at the NHS75 ParkRun in Shrewsbury and Oswestry.  

Anyone could get involved and either walk, jog or run the 5K at their local ParkRun to celebrate this major milestone in the NHS’s history and acknowledge all the staff and volunteers, past and present, who have made the NHS what it is.   

Niki Jones, Performance Analyst at NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, said: “I was volunteering, handing out finish tokens to the 670-plus people who crossed the finish line at the Quarry ParkRun, Shrewsbury. It was lovely to see how many of them had donned NHS blue or gone even further to show their support for the NHS. I'm always proud to say that I work in the National Health Service.”  

The NHS75 ParkRun was the perfect way to round off a week of birthday celebrations!   

1. Team NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin in Shrewsbury
2. Team Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Oswestry
3. Team Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust in Shrewsbury
4. Team Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust in Shrewsbury

 

Volunteer Story 

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) has also marked NHS75 by sharing good news stories about their volunteers and the fantastic and inspiring work they do to help support the hospital. 

Listen to Jean Scott’s story below and find out how her work has transformed her life and the lives of every patient she meets in the hospital. 

Talking about NHS 75K, Jean said: “The NHS to me are angels. They try their hardest, and I’m hoping to keep going (volunteering) for as long as they want me.”