Join us on our 72nd birthday for the biggest NHS Thank You clap ever

• Join us on Sunday, 5 July at 5pm for the biggest Thank You Ever
• Send us thank-you messages and videos
• Show your support on social media using hashtag #ThankYouTogether
• Like and share our special Happy Birthday video we are making for you
• Colour in posters no matter what your age to show your love of the NHS

We are dedicating our 72^nd birthday to thanking everyone who has supported the NHS during Coronavirus.

So please join us and the nation wherever you are on Sunday, 5 July at 5pm to give the biggest Thank You NHS clap.

Staff at every level of Oxford Health have gone above and beyond in recent months to care for friends, families and loved ones, as well as each other during the pandemic. They are still doing so every day.

But on our birthday not only do we want to applaud our brilliant colleagues but also the people in our communities without whom the NHS wouldn’t have been able to respond.

Debbie Richards, Oxford Health’s Managing Director of Mental Health & Learning Disabilities, said: “It’s a chance to reflect on everything our communities have recently endured, stand in solidarity to mourn our losses, and thank those who are risking so much to keep us safe – from all our staff here to the truck drivers and cleaners to doctors and shelf stackers – all of the key workers everywhere who have kept us going.

“It is also a thank you to our neighbours, the ones who did the shopping, got the prescriptions, kept an eye on each other or simply did their best to stay home and save lives.”

Every week of the pandemic, our Oxford Health Charity has been overwhelmed with the generosity of people and businesses across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire and Bath & North East Somerset,  who have supported our call to help fill care packs for our staff.

Hundreds of boxes packed with treats have gone to in community hospitals, in-patient ward, community teams and support staff.

From individual donations of essential face shields to local supermarkets sending Easter Eggs to care staff working with our young in-patients. So many have done their bit during the difficult weeks of lockdown.

Debbie added: “We will never forget the kindness and generosity you have shown us and all carers. You helped us through these difficult times. You helped us to help you, the community we are here to serve.”

Get involved:

Send us your messages by Wednesday, 1 July

• Video message – filmed in landscape on a mobile phone/tablet with you or your family’s message of no more than 10 seconds.
• Photo – individual or a socially distanced group landscape photo with drawn or written message of thanks.

You can use one of the downloadable colour in posters on the Thank You together website here for your photo or video message.

These video clips and photos will be used on our social media channels over the anniversary weekend. Please email video clips or photos to communications.team@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk stating your name and the area you live. Please confirm you have the permission of everyone in the video to send it to us.

What else is happening?

As part of the NHS anniversary weekend national landmarks will be ‘lit up blue’ . There will also be a minute’s silence  at 8pm on Saturday 4 July to remember the tens of thousands of victims of coronavirus. At the same time people will be encouraged to light candles in their windows in remembrance.