[L]ocal NHS organisations and healthcare union Unison are hosting an NHS 70th birthday celebration on Saturday 7th July in Carlisle City Centre and everyone is invited!
The event will take place outside the old town hall between 10am – 2pm and will celebrate the work of the NHS and its staff locally and nationally with a particular focus on recruitment and the range of opportunities available locally.
A variety of stalls will be hosted by NHS services, our partners and local charities, providing activities and interactive displays with someone for everyone.
Our recruitment teams will be showcasing our is this you? campaign and promoting the range of careers and opportunities within the NHS locally and NHS services will be giving an insight and providing information about their work to the public and those interested in a career in the field.
NHS stalls include maternity matters and midwife led services, infant feeding advice and support, cancer services, physiotherapy, podiatry, health visiting, and community services. Palliative care and bereavement support will be teaming up to hold a Death café providing information about their services. Occupational therapists and Physiotherapists will be carrying out safety checks on walking aids and providing falls prevention advice.
Our mental health teams will be providing information and activities including first step with a special emphasis on the new computerised cognitive behaviour therapy and the ways to wellbeing groups. Our community mental health teams will be sharing information on decider skills and providing recovery through activity demos. You can also visit the Memory Matters team on a vintage bus to raise awareness of dementia and memory problems.
Healing Arts will be showcasing their activity in the hospitals and in the community, futures plans & and an opportunity to ‘take part’ in some artistic events. You can also speak to the Patient Experience Team and Healthwatch about your NHS experiences and check out the Cumbria Archive Centre’s display of old photos and hospital records.
Plus, we will be joined by the Public Health, University of Cumbria, Macmillan, North West Ambulance Service, Carlisle City Council Walking for Health programme, Cumbria Archive Centre, Happy Mums Foundation and more partner and voluntary organisations.
Liz Walsh, Secretary for Cumbria and North Lancs health branch of Unison said: “Unison is funding this celebration because we fully back the NHS and the wonderful service our staff provide to all the people of Cumbria, we hope as many people as possible come down to celebrate with us.”
Amanda Dunkley, Attraction Lead (HR), said: “This is going to be a fantastic event showcasing the huge range of careers across the NHS. The NHS is one of the world’s largest employers and best known brands and is envied around the world. Our 70th birthday party will be an opportunity for everyone in the community to come together to celebrate the occasion!”
This event is one of a series of birthday celebrations planned to mark the 70th year of the NHS, including a 5km parkrun and a service of thanks at Carlisle Cathedral.
The parkrun will take place this Saturday 9th June at Chances Park, Wigton Road, Carlisle at 9am. Carlisle parkrunners and NHS staff were the inspiration behind a national parkrun celebration, and their idea will see more than 300 celebratory parkrun events taking place up and down the country this weekend. The plans were launched last month by Dame Kelly Holmes, and aims to encourage physical activity.
On Sunday 1st July NHS staff and members of the public are invited to come along to a service of celebration and thanksgiving for our NHS at Carlisle Cathedral. The service will be led by the Bishop of Carlisle, James Newcome, and will include readings from NHS staff. Everyone is welcome to attend for refreshments from 5.30, with the service to begin at 6.30.
Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group, Carlisle Healthy City Steering Group and Carlisle Partnership are encouraging everyone to get involved with the birthday celebrations.
They are still looking for businesses to show their support by creating health-themed displays, hosting a tea party or decorating their place of work blue for the day! Across the North of England, landmarks are being lit up blue on the 5th July – if your organisation would like to get involved in the celebrations, please contact us via email at: [email protected].
