THOUSANDS of county health workers are joining in national celebrations today to mark 70 years since the NHS was founded.

And Wye Valley NHS bosses say they thank Herefordshire’s healthcare heroes for their hard work and dedication.

More than 3,000 staff, including doctors, nurses, midwives and porters work extremely hard 24 hours a day to provide healthcare services at Hereford County Hospital, and Leominster, Ross and Bromyard Community Hospitals, and in the community such as health visitors and district nurses who provide support and care in people’s homes.

In the run up to the NHS 70th anniversary the Trust has been inviting staff to share their memories about working in the NHS and what it means to them, with many having dedicated most of their lives to the NHS in Herefordshire and further afield.

To mark the national celebration on Thursday, staff, PFI partners, and volunteers have been invited to the NHS Big7 Tea events taking place at each of the Trust’s hospitals.

Shirley Whittall, a registered nurse for cardiac angiography at the Trust, who has 50 years NHS service, is one of 170 long-service staff who have clocked up a total of 5,500 years’ service working for the NHS and are also invited to the Trust’s long service ceremony on 24 July to receive a special thank you from the Trust Board of directors.

Shirley said: “My 50 years working in the NHS have been wonderful and it’s lovely to care for patients as I would like my family to be cared for.”

Sue Smith, director of human resources at the Trust, said: “Our staff and volunteers are truly amazing and it’s their dedication and commitment that enables us to provide high quality care and services to people across the county every day, all year round.

“To thank them, we are inviting staff and volunteers to NHS Big7 Tea events in our hospitals on the 5 July anniversary day, along with a ceremony to recognise the 170 staff with over 25 years’ service, which will take place later this month. We’re also very grateful and would like to thank everyone involved in helping to organise this event including staff, unions, our PFI partners and local companies who have kindly donated cakes”.

Two healthcare workers from the Trust, Emma Hill and Will Morris, are honored to be invited to a ceremony at Westminster Abbey on the 5 July to celebrate the NHS 70th anniversary. The event will also mark the contribution NHS staff across the country have made to the service over the last seven decades.

Jane Ives, managing director at the Trust, said: “I see first-hand every day the remarkable work that our staff do supporting and caring for the people of Herefordshire from cradle to grave. The 70th birthday of our great NHS is a good opportunity to say thank you to all our fantastic staff. The recent announcement of more resources for the NHS is very welcome to ensure we can continue to invest in providing great care and new technology and facilities”.

Sue Smith added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our staff and volunteers, and for the first time we’re holding the staff awards ceremony at our Annual General Meeting, which is taking place on 18 July at the Three Counties Hotel in Hereford, starting at 5.30pm, which the public are invited to attend.

“A service of celebration is also being held by healthcare partners in the county, which will take place at Hereford Cathedral on Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at 7.30pm, which is open to anyone who has had a connection to the NHS – staff and their families, patients and visitors”.

Jacqueline Barnes, Director of Nursing for NHS England (West Midlands) said: “We are delighted that staff, patients and public in Herefordshire and across the West Midlands are taking to time to celebrate the NHS 70th birthday.

“It’s time to take a moment to reflect and celebrate the great achievements of the NHS over the last 7 decades, an organisation which provides care for its patients and their families from before they were born and after their deaths.

“In Herefordshire, like the rest of the country, NHS staff dedicate themselves every day to deliver world class care and raise their sights above the day to day struggles.

“Let’s take this opportunity to thank the staff for their dedication and recognise the hard work that happens every day in Hospitals and community settings across the West Midlands. Happy 70th birthday NHS.”