Five of our oustanding staff are attending a special service for NHS workers from across the country at Westminster Abbey today, commemorating the creation of the health service in 1948 – another was pictured outside 10 Downing Street yesterday as part of celebrations.

Proudly representing us at the event at the abbey, offering thanks to colleagues and volunteers, past and present, are:

• Mental Health Nurse Sally-Anne Phillips, with Buckinghamshire CAMHS, who won an Oxford Health Staff Award for Preceptorship
• Behavioural Charge Nurse Natalie Kensett, with Oxfordshire’s Intensive Support Team, who won a Daisy Award for supporting adults and children with a learning disability
• Diane Woodward, Nursing Workforce Transformation Manager in Human Resources, who won a Staff Award for Inclusion
• Rebecca Holder, Allied Health Professionals Lead for Community Hospitals, recognised after winning a Bee Award for the support and care she provides to colleagues
• Tony James, Consultant Psychiatrist at the Highfield Unit, who was recently presented with a long service award, having worked for us for 35 years

Executive Officer to the CEO and Chair, Elaine Jones, with 24 years of NHS service, was delighted to attend an ‘NHS Champions’ event at Number 10.

She said: “I felt very honoured and privileged to receive an invitation. It was totally unexpected, and I feel extremely proud to be recognised as an NHS Champion.”

Our staff have been sharing stories all week about why the NHS matters so much to us, with one saying: “It is part of the foundation of who we are and what we believe in.”

Echoing this our new CEO Grant Macdonald said: “We have a shared endeavour to improve health and wellbeing, support people to keep mentally and physically well and to get better when they are ill.”

As we look back on the history and achievements of the NHS over this time, our founding principles remain unchanged – as relevant, and valued, as they were 75 years ago today.