On Thursday, 5 July, the NHS turned 70 and to celebrate, a special event was held at Maidstone Hospital.

A huge, personalised birthday card was delivered by Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS), which has been signed by teams from across the county.  This is on display in Maidstone Hospital.

Those who attended also enjoyed a slice of birthday cake, kindly designed and made by catering students from Mid Kent College. 

A display was also unveiled in the grounds of the hospital which was designed and created by the hospital’s Estates and Facilities team and will remain in place throughout the year.  A floral display has been created at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service Chief Executive Ann Millington said: “Everyone at Kent Fire and Rescue Service sends their best wishes to the teams that provide such vital services in Kent and Medway. Today (5 July) is a time to reflect, to be proud and to give thanks for everything the NHS does in taking care of our health and wellbeing.”

Vice Chair of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Sarah Dunnett said: “Today (5 July) was the perfect opportunity to celebrate the achievements of one of the nation’s most loved institutions and to recognise and thank the extraordinary NHS staff, who are everyday heroes.

“I was honoured to be asked to represent the Trust today and my sincere thanks go out to all those colleagues from other organisations who work so closely with us on a daily basis, and whose partnerships help us to keep our communities safe and well.

Sarah Dunnett added: “We should be proud of the NHS and we can all play a role in supporting it in this special birthday year. This could be by volunteering, raising money for local NHS charities, or by taking steps to look after our own health and use services wisely.”

Staff from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust were joined by colleagues from KFRS, South East Coast Ambulance Service and Kent Police.