Come and join in the celebration

We would love it if you would send us your photos from your celebrations and we will share them on social media.

There are lots of events have been planned by our staff across NHS Tayside to commemorate the 70th birthday of the NHS. These range from photographic displays capturing the improvements and developments in the NHS over the last seven decades, floral displays at Ninewells, Stracthro and PRI, specially baked commemorative cake, a trip back in time display featuring old photos from yesteryear, tea parties to raise funds and tea parties just for fun...so much is happening from Thursday, 5 July.

Here is what is happening in NHS Tayside ....

NHS Tayside is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the creation of the National Health Service by hosting a variety of events to mark this important milestone in the history of the NHS.

As the much loved institution turns 70 on 5 July, NHS Tayside is encouraging everyone to join in the celebrations that have been planned to mark this historic occasion.

The NHS was created in 1948 based on the principle of healthcare provided free at the point of need, a commitment that is as strong today.

There are lots of events and activities planned throughout the week with the celebrations starting on Thursday, 5 July with commemorative photographic displays and a cake cutting ceremony at Ninewells Hospital. The special 70th cake has been donated by Frank Esposito, owner of the cafe and Take Away on Level 7 at Ninewells.

The commemorative 70th display will capture many of the changes and developments in services provided by NHS Tayside over the last seven decades. It is hoped that, weather permitting, this will be on view outside the main entrance to Ninewells between 1 and 4pm. Over the next few weeks the display will be taken to various sites across Tayside to enable more staff and members of the public to enjoy it.

Visitors and staff to Ninewells are also invited to visit our ‘Trip Down Memory Lane’ display on the main concourse between 10am and 4pm. If you want to see some of the old hospitals again or reminisce about the ‘good old days’ then this nostalgic photographic display is definitely not to be missed. The display, including a nurse’s uniform from the past, has been created with the support of Matthew Jarron, Curator at the Tayside Medical History Museum at the University of Dundee.

Our staff will be holding their own celebrations in their areas or departments to mark the day and we will be sharing photos on social media. Tesco Superstore Kingsway West kindly donated lots of Happy 70th Birthday balloons which will be given out in our celebration packs for staff.

Why not visit NHS Tayside’s website http://www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk/ and look for our dedicated NHS 70th webpage where you will be able to catch up on all the fun and various events taking place across NHS Tayside.

For our green-fingered enthusiasts, our grounds maintenance teams at Ninewells, Stracathro Hospital and at PRI have been busy creating lovely NHS 70th floral displays in the grounds of the hospitals.

Specially-created ‘Oor Wullie’ iced biscuits provided by ‘The Take Away on level 7’ commemorating the NHS 70th are also on sale at Ninewells helping to raise funds for the Archie Foundation’s Tayside Children’s Hospital Appeal.

On Thursday, 5 July, staff and patients visiting our dining rooms will be able to look at an example of what a typical menu would have been like back in 1948, which had old favourites such as liver, tripe and kale featuring on them. However, all of our catering departments will be serving our usual meals from 2018 as normal!

Tea parties feature as part of the celebrations, with staff holding them at Stracathro Hospital and Whitehills Health and Community Care Centre in Forfar to raise funds for Tayside Health Fund. So if you are visiting then please make time for a cuppa and a cake.

Patients and staff at Kingsway Care Centre in Dundee will also be enjoying their own special tea party on Friday, 6 July. This event has been kindly sponsored by Asda Dundee Kirkton Superstore who generously donated lots of delicious cakes and other goodies for this tea party.

Finally to mark NHS 70th anniversary NHS Tayside has arranged, with support from Dundee City Council, for a light display to feature on the exterior of Thorntons Solicitors building on Yeaman Shore in Dundee in the city centre for the next few weeks.