On July 5, back in 1948, one of the greatest institutions in this country was founded: the NHS. Providing millions of people up and down the country with free healthcare, the NHS is a cornerstone of British society. And to celebrate the service’s 75th anniversary, buildings and landmarks around the country will ‘light up blue’.
Two years ago, for the NHS’s 73rd anniversary, over 70 landmarks around the country lit up to commemorate the occasion. This year’s anniversary lighting, on the evening of July 5, is well on the way to smashing that number.
Where can I see the sky light up blue?
Among the buildings in Birmingham that will light up blue are Aston University, Conference Aston and The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Birmingham. But plenty of other nearby buildings include Walsall Manor Hospital, Coventry University, Dudley Council House and Tamworth Castle. While plenty of other buildings throughout the Midlands will shine true blue.
Other national landmarks that will light up blue include the London Eye and The Shard, Brighton’s Royal Pavilion, The Roman Baths, and Blackpool Tower, to name just a few. Together they’ll turn the skyline blue to honour a service that works incredibly hard every day.
This comes at a time when the service continues to face underfunding and under-resourcing, coupled with huge demand and staff shortages. Wait times for those who visit A&E at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust can go on as long as 6+ hours.
Now, obviously, the night-time illuminations won’t solve that issue. We can only hope that a visible shared symbol of the nation’s appreciation for the NHS will remind the government how important the service is.
A full list of the buildings that are confirmed to be lighting up blue for NHS75 tomorrow night (July 5) can be found here. Everyone is encouraged to take photos and share the moment using the hashtags #NHS75 and #LightUpBlue.