NHS staff from across the South East will be joining a series of commemorative national events tomorrow (5 July), including a service at Westminster Abbey and a reception at No 10 Downing Street.

The activity, which will also see 17 iconic sites and landmarks ‘light up blue’ across the region, marks the NHS turning 75 – a momentous occasion for the health service, its staff and the communities it serves.

Around 100 NHS staff from across the South East, including senior leaders, and front line staff, will join other colleagues, senior government and political leaders, health leaders and celebrities at Westminster Abbey during the morning to celebrate the birthday. The service will include an address by NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard at 11am.

Prayers will be read by health and social care secretary Steve Barclay, chief nurse Dame Ruth May, NHS national medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis, chief allied health professions officer Prof Suzanne Rastick OBE, and Richard Webb-Stevens, a paramedic who was first on the scene of the Westminster Bridge terror attack and who holds the Queen’s Ambulance Medal for Distinguished Service.

A paediatric intensive care consultant from the South East – Dr Michael Griksaitis – who works at University Hospital Southampton, is amongst invited guests to give a testimony at the event. Dr Griksaitis led teams who got children with cancer from Ukraine.

A reception at 10 Downing Street will follow at 11:45 where other NHS staff will be greeted by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and other political leaders of government.

Anne Eden, Regional Director for NHS South East, said: “Tomorrow is a moment for us all to reflect and celebrate all that the NHS has achieved and the support for what it represents.

“The NHS is built upon the millions of hardworking NHS staff and volunteers who have shown an ability to adapt and innovate to the new challenges we face to care for generation after generation. Most recently illustrated by the immediate response to the Covid pandemic, the incredible world-leading roll out of the Covid vaccination programme and pulling out all the stops to recover and transform services.

“The pandemic is just one example of the incredible team effort that happens every day in the interests of our patients and service users.

She added: “As we mark the 75th birthday of the NHS and wonder what the next 75 years might hold, I want to take the opportunity to thank NHS staff across the South East for all that they continue to do.”

The following sites will ‘Light Up Blue’ across the South East

• Bluewater shopping centre
• Bottle Alley in Hastings
• Brighton Pier
• Brighton Town Hall
• Clock Tower Gravesend
• Hever Castle
• Hove Town Hall
• Medway Hospital
• O2 Guildhall, Southampton
• Rochester Castle
• Rochester Cathedral
• Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth
• The Brighton Centre
• The Mazda fountain
• The Old Lighthouse at Dungeness on Romney Marsh
• The Queen Elizabeth 11 Bridge from Kent to Essex
• The Royal Pavilion