Commemorations will be held today in the capital to honour the dedicated NHS staff who have worked together to tackle the biggest public health emergency in the history of the health service, and remember those who lost their lives.

National leaders will attend a service at the Blossom Memorial Garden in Stratford, East London, this afternoon in memory of the NHS workers who lost their lives in the pandemic, and is one of a number of events happening over the coming days to mark the 73^rd anniversary of the NHS.

Later this evening  London’s world-famous landmarks including the London Eye, the Wembley Arch, Tottenham Hotspurs and other football stadiums will join dozens of others around the country in lighting up blue, both in honour of the NHS’ birthday, and of those staff who have lost their lives during the pandemic.

These include sites that have been part of the world-leading vaccine rollout that has seen almost 9 million life-saving jabs delivered so far across London.

Among those paying tribute at the national commemoration event will be the NHS chief people officer Prerana Issar, who said:

 “Each person represents an irreplaceable gap in a family and a workplace.  

“While this is a private event for families and some NHS colleagues, I encourage you to take a moment on Saturday to reflect and remember those who sadly died while caring for and protecting patients.”
The garden, at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, was planted as a living memorial and is a place to reflect, remember those who lost their lives, and pay tribute to key workers”

Dr Vin Diwakar, Medical Director for the NHS in London said:

“We are grateful for the support we’ve received from Londoners during the coronavirus pandemic and would like to thank everyone in London who has come together to light up blue to mark the huge contribution of health service staff and commemorate those who sadly lost their lives.”

Daniel Levy, Chairman, Tottenham Hotspur, said: 

“We are delighted to be selected as one of the major landmarks across the country to be illuminated blue tonight, giving us the opportunity to say a huge thank you to all those who continue to perform heroics on a daily basis.

“Seeing our stadium brought to life by NHS staff and thousands of patients coming through the doors during the pandemic has given inspiration to us all during a difficult period.

“We continue to work closely with the NHS, hosting mass vaccination clinics, as we take the final steps out of the pandemic – thank you NHS.”