A challenge for people to cover ‘70k Your Way’ during June, a newly created woodland walk, a video that captures hospital life in the 1950s, wards decorated in patriotic bunting and a cream tea featuring a ‘singing porter’ – will be among dozens of colourful and fun activities taking place at NHS organisations in the North East and Yorkshire to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

“Congratulations to all our NHS colleagues, hospital charities and well-wishers for their efforts in arranging events and activities to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and helping to make it a memorable occasion for patients, their families and staff,” said Dr Jonathan Slade, the NHS region’s Medical Director (System Improvement and Professional Standards).

Among the jubilee-themed activities taking place at NHS trusts, clinical commissioning groups and healthcare systems across our region over the bank holiday weekend are

• Airedale Hospital and Community Charity is running a Jubilee photo-a-day challenge on Twitter and Instagram, asking staff and the community to share photos by tagging them @AiredaleCharity and #AOKPhotoADay. Some wards will be decorated to make the weekend special for patients. Children are invited to colour in a picture for a Jubilee exhibition at Airedale Hospital. The trust’s gardening team has created a woodland walk to form part of the Queen’s Jubilee Canopy. The Chaplaincy Team has a ‘thankfulness table’ where everyone is invited to write the name of someone they want to thank. Jubilee-themed chocolates will be given out to staff and volunteers working during the Jubilee week as a thank-you.
• The paediatrics department at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is holding a children’s colouring competition.
• NHS Calderdale Clinical Commissioning Group is sharing #ThankYouDay messages on social media @calderdaleccg ahead of the jubilee weekend and as part of Thank You Day on Sunday 5 June.
• At Bassetlaw Hospital in Worksop, part of Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, staff on Ward A4, which specialises in stroke and general medicine, will celebrate the reopening of their garden with a special tea tomorrow (Tuesday 31st) to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Staff have worked closely with Bassetlaw League of Friends charity to revitalise the outdoor area, adding a sheltered area and new artificial grass. Attendees will be treated to non-alcoholic Pimm’s, strawberries and cream and a performance by Andre ‘the Singing Porter’.
• Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust will run ward-based activities over the weekend and share photos via social media.
• Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has produced a special video looking back at what life was like at the hospital during the 1950s and how things are very different, but also quite familiar, 70 years later. Staff, family and friends are invited to cover 70km during June, by running, walking, cycling or swimming. Finishers will receive a royal certificate and there’s even a royal map that covers 70km around London landmarks.
• Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust and its community charity will hold a garden party for staff in a new wellbeing garden on Monday 6 June, with cakes, drinks and games.
• Rooftop lighting at York hospital will turn red, white and blue from Wednesday (1 June) as York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust celebrates the jubilee. Flags will fly at the trust’s two hospitals in York and Scarborough.

Alongside these special events many NHS organisations are supporting #ThankYouDay by sharing thank-you message through social media. Thank You Day calls on people to come together to celebrate the Queen for 70 years of service, and say a great big thank you to those who have worked so hard over the last 12 months.

• People in the North East and Yorkshire are reminded to plan ahead with their medicines needs for the four-day bank holiday weekend, and to visit NHS111 online first in the event medical advice is needed. Health advice and information is available from the NHS App, NHS website and your local GP practice website. You can also use the NHS website to find a pharmacy near you which will be open over the bank holiday.