It has been an extremely challenging year for the NHS, and the country as a whole, but also a year of hope.
Hospitals have cared for around 400,000 seriously ill Covid patients, including more than 100,000 admitted in January alone, along with millions more besides.
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.
At LYPFT we have our own amazing stories and examples of endeavour that we can shine a light on over the last 15 months such as:
- Responding and adapting to new ways of working, sometimes at the drop of a hat
- The redeployment of hundreds of staff across our crisis and inpatient teams to maintain a service to our most vulnerable
- Creating cohorting spaces in our wards to keep service users and staff safe
- The introduction of new clinical practice like virtual appointments
- Setting up and running our amazing testing and vaccination programmes
The birthday offers us all a chance to say a Big Thank You, and also to remember those we have lost.
Every single one of our staff has worked so hard to ensure that LYPFT continues to deliver high quality care.
We want to use this opportunity to thank you once again to everyone for what they are doing and a special thank you card is coming out to everyone this week from our Chief Exec, Dr Sara Munro.
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Getting involved in birthday celebrations
The NHS could not have achieved all that is has without the skill and dedication of our 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.
So we’re encouraging everyone to mark the occasion in their own way. To help inspire you we’ve included a few ideas below – and please don’t be shy about sharing them with us and the wider world!
Key national events and activities coming up that you can get involved in…
- To start the activities, buildings, landmarks and monuments across our region and beyond will Light Up Blue – the colour of the NHS – on the evening of Saturday 3 July.
- The birthday message will be amplified by a national Thank You Day, organised by the Together
Coalition, on Sunday 4 July.We encourage you to join May Parsons, the Nurse who gave the first Covid vaccine, and many others in supporting the initiative.Find out more about activities taking place and join the conversation on the Thank You Day Facebook page.
For example, communities are talking part in a ‘Power Hour’ to tidy up our communities, a way of saying thanks to our local environment that kept us sane during lock down. (Led by Keep Britain Tidy)
And The Big Lunch is encouraging people to get together with your neighbours and eat together. (Led by the Big Lunch)
- The NHS Big Tea, organised by NHS Charities Together, on Monday 5 July will be a chance for communities to come together to thank NHS staff, and each other, for the huge role they have played over the last year. Join in and take a tea break like no other.
At 3pm, join the nation by stopping for a tea break and let’s raise a mug in collective thanks to share our heartfelt gratitude to every clinician, nurse, support worker, hospital porter and paramedic who’s put themselves on the line this year to keep us and our loved ones safe.
Sign up to host a tea party here.