The National Health Service turns 70 today and the University is proud to be supporting the celebrations, with a number of special activities.
Lighting up blue
To help mark the NHS’s 70th birthday, buildings, historic monuments and other high profile sites across the country will be ‘lighting up’ blue tonight, including the University’s own iconic School of Engineering building on Brownlow Hill. Other venues taking part across the city include St George’s Hall, the Radio City Tower and the Port of Liverpool building.
People are encouraged to take photos and share them via social media using the hashtags: #NHS70 and #LightUpBlue.
Scientists on tour
Researchers from the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences are visiting hospitals across Liverpool all week as part of a public engagement roadshow. They’re showcasing just some of the inspiring research the University does in conjunction with the NHS to patients, visitors and staff. A team of enthusiastic volunteers have been running hands-on activities and chatting about their work at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool Women’s Hospital, The Walton Centre, Royal Liverpool Hospital and Aintree Hospital.
For all the latest updates and photos from the roadshow follow @LivUniEngageHLS
National Health Stories
Medical historian Professor Sally Sheard is presenting a wonderful 20 part BBC Radio 4 series on the history of the NHS. The provocative series features key moments in the history of the NHS, from the poor health care available prior to its introduction, to its difficult beginnings and key achievements and challenges. A common theme through the twenty stories is the constant concern about funding – right from the start of the service in 1948. Several of the episodes focus on difficult decisions that were made about who to treat and how to pay for the NHS.
National Health Stories is on BBC Radio 4 each weekday at 13.45 from 18 June to 13 July. It is also available through the BBC iPlayer and as weekend omnibus editions.
Professor Louise Kenny, Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Health and Life Sciences said: “We are delighted to support the NHS 70th birthday celebrations. The University of Liverpool has a long and proud history of working closely with local NHS partners to train the next generation of healthcare professionals and carry out ground-breaking research, and we wish it well on this landmark birthday,”
Our Development and Alumni Relations team has also taken a look back through their records and estimate that since 1917 (when our current records began) the University has produced nearly 20,000 graduates who likely went on to work for the NHS, including dentists, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and radiographers.
From everyone at the University of Liverpool, happy birthday NHS!