Happy Birthday NHS!

The NHS celebrates its birthday on the 5th July having been first established in the UK on the 5th July 1948 marking 76 years of service in 2024!

Treating over a million people every day in England, the NHS touches all of our lives. When it was introduced in 1948, the NHS was the first universal health system to provide healthcare for all, no matter what their circumstances, and was free at the point of delivery. It has been involved in treating patients and making huge breakthroughs in medicine, such as delivering the the world's first liver, heart, and lung transplant in 1987.

This anniversary presents a day to reflect on how far the NHS has come and to look to the future. Recent years have seen the NHS face a number of challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, record waiting lists and longstanding workforce shortages.

Celebrating this day in history means to also celebrate the dedicated staff who decided to join the National Health Service, and have continued to show a commitment for helping others. The NHS in England currently employs around 1.5 million people!

Happy Birthday NHS!