Celebrating the diamond birthday of the NHS with Croydon healthcare staff who together have given 75 dedicated years of service
In honour of it being 75 years since the birth of the NHS, Croydon Health Services gathered today with colleagues, friends and the wider Croydon community in their biggest birthday celebrations yet.
The day was a chance for NHS staff and patients to celebrate the hard work and commitment of NHS workers, past and present.
Sharing their birthday with the NHS, five frontline staff who together have given 75 years of dedicated service to the health service, joined the Trust’s celebrations. The staff celebrating their birthday with the NHS demonstrated the wide range of skills and expertise that has helped make the NHS the much-loved institution that it is today, including a doctor, a healthcare assistant, nurse and manager.
Helping to cut the cake with his joint birthday with the NHS was Trust Chief Executive and Placed Based Leader for Health, Matthew Kershaw, who said:
“Celebrating 75 years of the NHS is a testament to the commitment of our staff and their unwavering dedication to providing outstanding care to the Croydon community. I am proud to have been a part of the NHS journey and excited to celebrate this milestone with our staff, patients, and wider public.”
The day started with healthcare staff honouring the first baby born in the hospital’s maternity unit, on the eve of the NHS75 birthday, just a few hours shy of midnight. The proud Mum and Dad, Mr and Mrs Smith, spoke of the:
“Great level of care and attention received from the Croydon University Hospital maternity team throughout their pregnancy.”
Well-known celebrities also sent in their messages of thanks to the NHS in Croydon, including singer Alesha Dixon and comedian Dane Baptise. More also visited the Trust to celebrate with staff in person, including British Book Award winner, Candice Carty-Williams, whilst the cast of Horrible Histories surprised children on the ward with a preview screening of an NHS special before it was broadcast on Children’s BBC later that day.
To honour the significant milestone of the NHS turning 75, Croydon University Hospital had a series of exciting events engaging both staff and the community. The celebratory activities included hosting the annual NHS Big Tea garden party, with a formal cake-cutting by Mr Kershaw (CEO) himself and some encouraging words from Croydon Civic Mayor, traditional Mauritian Sega dancers, as well as a member in-house guitarist from our Team Croydon.
Members of the Trust also attended the NHS75 celebration at Westminster Abbey, including Dr Mayank Agarwal who has worked on the frontline in hospital’s Emergency Department throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and Elaine Clancy, the Trust’s former Chief Nurse, who led the Trust’s COVID response in one of London’s hardest and fastest hit boroughs.
Starting as a full-time volunteer in 1995, and now a Neurology Nurse Consultant at Croydon Health Services, speaking on yesterday’s events, Ajay said:
“I am proud to be part of the NHS 75 celebrations. It gives us chance to reflect on the past, look ahead to the future and celebrate the incredible work done by our colleagues both in the hospital and wider community settings.”
NHS75 Celebrations captured by ITV London News (00:45 - 03:13)
While you're here watch Hayley's story, as a nurse who came to live and work in London from Trinidad in the 1980s.
She joined the team at Croydon University Hospital as a midwife. Hayley enjoyed it so much that she decided to stay and has been there for over 30 years.