CELEBRATIONS have taken place across the country to mark the NHS's 73rd anniversary.

The celebrations are part of the national 'Thank You Day' which has seen events and activities held across the country to recognise and celebrate the work of NHS staff and key workers.

In honour of the work health service staff have put in since the start of the pandemic, the Queen has awarded the George Cross to the National Health Services of the UK, recognising all NHS staff in all four nations.

Do you know someone in the NHS who deserves a thank you? Scroll to the bottom of the story to send us your message.

In a handwritten message, the Queen said NHS staff have carried out their work "with courage, compassion and dedication".

Prince William attended a ceremony at St. Paul's Cathedral, along with the Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Leader of the Opposition, Sir Keir Starmer.

William also hosted the NHS Big Tea in the gardens of Buckingham Palace to pay tribute to the work of NHS staff.

The event at Buckingham Palace was one of thousands of Big Tea's taking place in homes, hospitals and schools across the country.

In May 2020, a coronavirus patient who ended up in an intensive care unit, kept awake as he feared the worst, praised the work of the NHS.

As a nurse at the Wye Valley NHS Trust, Keith Jones was normally fit and well helping others with their illness, but after contracting Covid-19 his life was in the hands of his NHS colleagues.

The 59-year-old, of Pontrilas, said he was not being over the top by saying the doctors and nurses on the intensive care unit at Hereford County Hospital saved his life.

After first showing symptoms it was 10 days before he had to be taken to hospital due to low oxygen levels.

"I was profoundly weak and unwell and then by the time you get to ICU (intensive care unit) I was frightened, I've done this (be a nurse) for 40 years and I was frightened," he said.

"I was told that if the breathing mask, it's called CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), didn't work and I had be on a ventilator then it's a 50/50 chance. I was well aware of the risks and Sunday night was the worst.

"I kept waking up every 10 minutes thinking what would happen if I did die, the psychological impact is quite profound."

Mr Jones, who has been working at Ross Community Hospital for the last two years, could not fault the care he received, admitting it's hard for fellow healthcare workers when there is currently no cure and it relies on the body being strong enough to fight the virus.

Intensive care units have one nurse to one patient, and even though a number of other people in the unit were unconscious with ventilators controlling their breathing, the care and compassion showed was still "exceptional".