UHBW is celebrating NHS’ 75 birthday – how can you get involved?

On 5 July 2023, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is inviting the communities we serve to a number of celebrations across our Bristol and Weston hospitals, to commemorate the National Health Service (NHS) 75^th birthday.

To mark this special occasion, events will be taking place for staff, patients and the public as we reflect on the NHS’ achievements and recognise our colleagues and the care they provide across the South West.

Find out how you can help us celebrate

Share your NHS memories in special birthday cards

Special 75^th birthday cards have been designed by artist Linda Toigo will be available in all our hospitals so that patients and staff can share their memories of the NHS. Cards will be given out by members of staff and can be posted back through special post boxes on site or handed back to staff.

Messages in the cards will be collated into a unique piece of artwork that will be permanently installed at Weston General Hospital later in the year. You can also add a message to a digital birthday card on the University of Bristol website.

Watch the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children’s hoops light up

The Grand Appeal, the dedicated charity for the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children (BRHC), is lighting up the iconic hoops blue outside the children’s hospital on Tuesday (4 July) and Wednesday (5 July) at night to support the light up blue for NHS 75 campaign. Please share images of the hoop lights on social media using the hashtags #NHS75 and #LightUpBlue and tag us in @uhbwNHS and @thegrandappeal so we can share your photos!

Enjoy live music at UHBW hospitals

A number of pop-up live music events will be taking place across all Bristol and Weston hospital sites on 5 July. This includes:

• Bristol Heart Institute Atrium - 11am - 11.30am - Ruth Hammond, nostalgic jazz tunes, keyboard and vocals
• Bristol Heart Institute Atrium - 15pm - 2pm - Bethany Roberts (one half of our Bristol + Weston Hospitals Charity-funded musician-in-residence team), folk inspired banjo and vocals
• Rafters Cafe, Weston General Hospital - 1pm - 1.30pm - Alex Lipinski, classic covers, guitar and vocals

 Enjoy a cake at the Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity roadshow

Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity will be hosting a roadshow on 5 July. You can join us for a slice of cake (While stocks last) and find out about the latest projects they’ve been working on.

 From 11am to 1pm, they’ll be based at the BRI, BRHC and Weston General Hospital (in Rafters cafe), Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre, St Michael’s Hospital, South Bristol Community Hospital, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and the Bristol Heart Institute.

They’ll also be at Bristol Eye Hospital from 11am - 12pm and Bristol Dental Hospital from 12pm - 1pm.

Swing by the Discharge Lounge drop-in and bake sale

The multi-talented Discharge team are hosting a drop-in for patients and staff to take a look around the Discharge lounge at Level 5 in the BRI and ask any questions about the facility. There will also be cakes for sale between 8.30am – 1.30pm.

Parkrun for the NHS

NHS England has teamed up with parkrun UK and the NHS in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to host ‘parkrun for the NHS’ on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July.

Thousands of people are expected to run, jog or walk 5km in NHS blue or fancy dress. You can also volunteer or just come along to spectate and soak up the atmosphere.

If you’re a member of a local parkrun and would like to lead on local preparations from a NHS perspective, find more information on how to get involved.

Celebrate UHBW’s national photography competition finalists

As part of the national celebration, Simon Brinkworth, Alice Kenny, and Lucy Wilmer from UHBW’s medical illustration team have been nominated as finalists for the national NHS75 Fuji film photography competition.

Entries will be judged by a panel including This Morning’s resident GP Dr Ellie, award-winning journalist Victoria Macdonald, eminent photographer Lewis Khan, Dr Habib Naqvi MBE, Fujifilm’s Theo Georghiades and Chief Nursing Officer for England, Dame Ruth May on 4 July.

The five winners will also have their photo displayed at the NHS 75th anniversary service at Westminster Abbey on 5 July. Photos will then be placed on display at a free exhibition at the FUJIFILM House of Photography, Covent Garden, London from 5 July until the end of August.