Over a thousand volunteers have signed up to provide friendly phone calls for patients in England who are vulnerable, isolated or lonely, as the NHS Volunteer Responders programme reintroduces its Check in and Chat service. GPs, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers are being encouraged to request Check in and Chat support for patients who are […]

NHS cancer patients will be the first in the world to benefit from chemotherapy delivered by drone as part of a new trial, NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard announced today. The drones, set to make their first flight in the coming weeks, will mean that the lifesaving treatment can be picked up and dropped to […]

Sir Simon Stevens, NHS Chief Executive, speaking at a special service of commemoration and thanksgiving held at St Paul’s Cathedral today (Monday 5 July), the anniversary of the health service’s foundation, said: Here in St Paul’s, we are reminded of extraordinary lives. Here are the tombs and memorials of Nelson and Wellington, Florence Nightingale and Alexander […]

The country’s top nurse, most senior doctor and the leader of other health professionals have issued a joint call for people to consider joining the NHS, as health chiefs gather to mark a year like no other, on the 73rd anniversary of the service’s foundation. Chief Nursing Officer Ruth May, NHS national medical director Professor […]

Sir Simon Stevens today hailed the “skill and compassion and the fortitude” of health service staff as the NHS was awarded the George Cross for 73 years dedicated service and the response to COVID by Her Majesty the Queen. Welcoming the “unprecedented” honour, bestowed collectively for only the third time, Sir Simon said that the […]

The Wembley arch, Liverpool’s Liver building, Salisbury Cathedral and vaccination centres across England are among dozens of sites set to be lit up blue today, to mark the anniversary of the founding of the NHS and the huge contribution of health service staff during the coronavirus pandemic. The move comes as events are held across […]

NHS staff who were on the frontline in the battle against COVID-19 will be at the heart of a special service of commemoration and thanksgiving to be held at St Paul’s Cathedral on Monday 5 July, the anniversary of the health service’s foundation.  Dr Ashley Price, a member of the team who treated the very […]

The NHS and St John Ambulance are joining forces for the NHS’ anniversary to recruit and train thousands of ‘NHS cadets’. The cadets will help to improve care for patients while offering a route into health service employment for up to 10,000 young people. The £6 million programme funded equally by NHS England and the […]

NHS patients in England will be some of the first people in Europe to benefit from a new “truly life-transforming” treatment for cystic fibrosis, health service chief executive Sir Simon Stevens has announced today. Three in five patients with the deadly genetic condition could benefit from the ‘triple combination’ treatment produced by Vertex Pharmaceuticals. This […]

Powerful and personal portraits of doctors, nurses and other NHS staff who responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, captured by acclaimed photographer Rankin, have been unveiled today to celebrate the NHS birthday. In a mark of respect and thanks to the NHS, the renowned photographer, who has previously shot the Rolling Stones, Kate Moss and the […]