It was time to celebrate, reflect and to look to the future as the NHS turned 75 this week.
The people of the NHS were front and centre at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW), with a huge range of events taking place to mark the occasion, from exhibitions exploring the history of healthcare in the region, to long service awards for colleagues who have dedicated more than 40 years of service to the country’s National Health Service and the Trust’s hospitals.
Service of thanks at Rochester Cathedral
MTW staff were among the 250 NHS colleagues who attended a service of thanksgiving and celebration at Rochester Cathedral on Monday 3 July. The multi-faith service reflected on the past 75 years and NHS Kent and Medway Chair Cedi Frederick thanked the skill, dedication and compassion of NHS staff and volunteers.
Helping Health – 75 years of the NHS
Maidstone Museum’s Helping Health exhibition includes personal memories of people who have worked for the service over the years and looks at what was available in the way of healthcare before the NHS, how it was formed, the services available now and the difference in the equipment available then and now for clinicians. The exhibition is open, free of charge, until Saturday 14 October
The exhibition was officially opened at a civic reception on Tuesday 4 July by the Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Gordon Newton who said: “This exhibition is very close to my heart not only because my wife Carol worked at Maidstone Hospital for many years, but also thanks to the fantastic work of the NHS which has helped my family.”
Flying the flag in Tunbridge Wells
Celebrations in Tunbridge Wells launched on Wednesday 5 July with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council who welcome representatives from the Trust to raise the NHS flag over the Town Hall.
The flag was raised by Rita Robinson, who has 45 years’ service to the NHS and by Dimpal Nazareth, a nurse in the Emergency Department at Tunbridge Wells Hospital. Later that day, the Town Hall was also lit up with blue lights during the evening to mark the occasion.
Service of thanks at Westminster Abbey
Five colleagues from the Trust – Sue Fauchon-Jones, Hospital Chaplain; Milli Patel, Digital Transformation Training Manager; Jane Williamson, PALS Officer; Sindhu Balagopal, Matron for Acute Medicine and Geriatrics; Arabella Waller, Consultant Physician and Rheumatologist; and Neil Griffiths, Deputy Chair of the Trust Board –joined 1,500 other NHS staff, senior government and political leaders, health leaders and celebrities at a service at Westminster Abbey on 5 July.
Those present were able to see the NHS’s George Cross, which the late Queen awarded to the health service in recognition of its work during the Covid-19 pandemic and throughout its history.
Reception at Number 10
A reception at 10 Downing Street followed the Westminster Abbey Service, where NHS staff were greeted by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and other political leaders.
Domestic Assistant Ervis Kuka, winner of the Chairman’s Individual Award at the Trust’s recent Exceptional People Outstanding Care Star Awards, represented colleagues from across the organisation at the event.
Ervis said: “I was so proud to be asked to attend Number 10 and represent MTW and celebrate NHS75. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and something I will remember forever.”
Celebration events at Tunbridge Wells Hospital
HM Lord Lieutenant of Kent, The Lady Colgrain, and the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Cllr Hugh Patterson, visited Tunbridge Wells Hospital. They raised the Trust flag at the front of the Hospital before meeting representatives from Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance on the helipad, to hand out long service awards and meet divisional representatives before planting a commemorative tree close to the new medical student accommodation building.
Long service awards
Taking place on Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 July, long service awards were presented to staff from across the Trust with over 40 years’ service each. The awards bestowed on the NHS 75th birthday totalled an incredible 900 years’ service. Among them was the indomitable Lucia, who has worked for the NHS for over 55 years!
Civic reception at Tunbridge Wells’ Amelia Centre
On Wednesday 5 July, a reception was held at the Amelia Centre where a brand-new exhibition in the Green Room hosts historical clothing, medical instruments and rare photographs spanning the full breadth of the NHS’ history in Tunbridge Wells.
The Centre commemorates the long link between Amelia Scott, a social reformer and campaigner for women’s suffrage, and Tunbridge Wells Hospital. Amelia was one of the first women elected to the borough council of Tunbridge Wells and was also Chair of the hospital committee at Pembury, writing an important report focussing on the transformation of the old workhouse into a modern hospital.
Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Tunbridge Wells granted to the Trust
The Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Tunbridge Wells was granted to Trust on 5 July. The Honorary Freedom of the Borough is the highest award that Tunbridge Wells Borough Council can give to an individual or corporate body. The award is not often made and is normally only conferred on local people who have made a significant contribution to the locality.
The award was made by the Mayor, Councillor Hugh Patterson, during a ceremony at the Full Council meeting, and received by Miles Scott (Chief Executive), David Highton (Chair of the Trust Board), Sally Foy (Director of Operational Nursing) and Debbie O’Reilly (Chair of the Staff Side Council).
Miles Scott said: “It is a huge privilege to receive this honour on behalf of my colleagues at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. We’re fortunate enough to have over 7,000 staff across our hospitals, caring for over 900,000 patients every year, and this honour is a testament to their hard work and commitment. I see the kindness, compassion and dedication of our teams, every single day.
This honour also represents our close relationship with the Council and the people of Tunbridge Wells who have shown such fantastic support for their local NHS throughout its 75-year existence, through the COVID pandemic and now as we move towards a bright future, and to the next 75 years of supporting our beloved NHS.”