On the 5th July the NHS marks its 72nd birthday and this year the NHS is asking that communities make pledges to support their own health and wellbeing.
During the last few months, the NHS has been through the greatest test in its lifetime and is still adapting to new ways of working with the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
At North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) the Trust is asking for support from the public and local Cumbrian communities to make pledges to help with their physical and mental wellbeing.
The NHS Birthday is also about thanking everyone, from truck drivers and cleaners to doctors and supermarket staff, all of the key workers who have kept us going in challenging times. A number of special thank you templates have been designed and everyone is being encouraged to download their favourite one, colour it in, and add the name of the person they’d like to say thank you to. These can then be shared on social media and put up in people’s windows.
Anna Stabler, chief nurse at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation the Trust said:
“When this year started no one knew what was going to lie ahead and here we are 7 months into 2020 working in ways we never imagined.
“Our NHS and all of our brilliant NHS staff are truly incredible and so to mark the 72nd birthday of the NHS we would love to encourage people to make pledges to take care of their health. This can be anything, from pledging to walk a few extra steps each day, making time for yourself, improving your diet or helping others.
“Your health pledge isn’t just about looking after your own health, it’s also about supporting your local NHS services. So give yourself and your NHS a helping hand by making a personal health pledge.”
The Trust is asking the public to share their pledges and thank you messages across social media this week making sure to tag @NCICNHS on Twitter and Facebook. They will then be complied together and shared on Sunday 5th July.