On Wednesday 5 July, the NHS will celebrate its 75th anniversary and the Black Country NHS has created a special poem to mark the occasion.
The five-verse poem reflects on the staff that make up the NHS and deliver the best possible care, how the NHS has evolved over the years with technology and innovation and ends with a thank you to all NHS staff.
A video of staff, volunteers, and patients from across the Black Country reciting the poem has been created and can be viewed on YouTube here.
The video features Delroy Elliot, a member of the Willenhall Chart Adult Learning Support Group as well as a range of healthcare professionals including Alex Griffiths, a Clinical Support Worker and Student Nurse from Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, who was awarded a BEM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, Aaron Bertram Miller, a Nurse Associate Educator at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust (SWB) and Liz Corrigan, BEM and Queen’s Nurse who is the General Practice Nurse System Lead for the Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB).
It also features Mr Peter Cooke, Consultant Urological Surgeon at Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust who has been at the forefront of innovation in his field, particularly when it comes to robotic surgery, and a number of volunteers including John Winsper, a volunteer at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust who has more than five years’ service at the Trust and Bally Barquer, who has volunteered at SWB for over five years.
Mark Axcell, Chief Executive Officer for the NHS Black Country ICB, said: “On 5 July, we will celebrate 75 years of the NHS, the very first universal healthcare system available and free to all at the point of delivery, which is a fantastic achievement.
“This special anniversary provides the perfect opportunity to look back on how far we’ve come in healthcare, and the dedication and camaraderie of the people behind it who make it all possible.
“The poem is a reflection of the brilliant people that make up the NHS in the Black Country - ordinary, yet extraordinary people, who continue to go above and beyond for us and our loved ones every day - and we’re delighted to share these heartfelt words for everyone to hear ahead of the birthday celebrations next week.”
NHS75 Poem:
From birth to your final moments
The NHS cares for you
Let’s all celebrate its 75th
And show that we care too
From clinical roles to management
There’s a career path for everyone
For those with years of experience
Or for those who’ve just begun
It’s filled with loving staff
Who deliver the best care
And make it a positive experience
No matter what they wear
It’s grown and evolved each decade
To suit our growing nation
With new and efficient medicines
Technology and innovation
We thank our volunteers
Our carers, patients and peers
And pledge to keep on caring
for another 75 years.
