Media Release
Date: 3 July 2020
RUH invites you to join the NHS 72nd birthday celebration Thank You
We're inviting you to celebrate the NHS 72nd birthday party on Sunday 5 July and say thank you, together, to everyone who's supported the NHS during coronavirus.
Staff at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust (RUH) will be marking the event by joining people across our community, and nationwide, in the biggest NHS Thank You clap ever.
We're dedicating our celebrations to our amazing staff, who have gone above and beyond in the past few months, as well as all the other professions, businesses and members of the public who've helped us during the outbreak.
Libby Walters, Trust Interim CEO, said: "We want to say a heartfelt thank you to all those ambulance staff, police officers, truck drivers, and refuse collectors who keep our community going, to all our nurses and support staff who've worked, and continue to work, so tirelessly, to everyone in our community who's been so generous with gifts, time and messages. Thank you all.
"This is a time to reflect on all that we and our community have endured across Bath, North East Somerset and Wiltshire. To thank all those key workers on the front line, and to thank everyone who did their best to stay home, save lives and protect the NHS."
Every day during the pandemic our RUH charity, The Forever Friends Appeal, was inundated with generous donations and gifts from people and businesses who wanted to support our call to help fill care packs for our staff.
Rhyannon Boyd, Head of Fundraising said: "We are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported us, whether you've made a donation or donated gifts in kind, thank you, everyone's effort has already made a big difference and it really means a lot to our staff."
We're hugely grateful too to our universities and schools who made and delivered vital supplies of face visors to keep our frontline staff safe.
Libby Walters said: "Coronavirus hasn't gone away and our work continues to care for those patients, and all others who need our many services now and in the future. But on the NHS birthday it's a time to celebrate and to be grateful for the support of all in our community."
What else is happening?
As part of the NHS anniversary weekend the RUH and national landmarks will be lit up blue. At 8pm on Saturday 4 July people will be encouraged to light candles in their windows in remembrance of victims of coronavirus.