Leeds celebrates 70 years of the NHS

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is one of the largest employers in the city. With more than 17,000 staff and for 70 years staff past and present have worked to support the health and well-being of Leeds - whilst playing a leading role in research, education and innovation.

Over the years Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has touched many of our lives, but along the way its gained a number of statuses through the work it carries out.

It's one of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe, a regional and national centre for specialist treatment, a world renowned biomedical research facility, a leading clinical trials research unit and also the local hospital for the Leeds community.

It hosts some of the country's leading clinical expertise and the most advanced medical technology in the world.

Budgets have changed over the years - it currently works with £1 billion to provide local and specialist services for our immediate population of 770,000 and regional specialist care for up to 5.4 million people.

Dr. Adrian Miller is a Consultant Biochemist at St James's Hospital: “I’ve yet to meet somebody who isn’t proud to work for it and we’re all proud of what it delivers under massive pressures. It is what it is I guess. The challenges we come up against on a daily basis are significant, but we love our job and love to serve the patients that come to see us".

“We have a lot of patients and especially in a place like Leeds. We are scientists so we really want to push the boundaries back; we want to leave the profession in a better state than how we found it."

Elizabeth Rees, Lead Nurse for End of Life Care at the hospital has spent 30 years with the NHS, 14 of those in Leeds: "As a nurse I feel it is a real privilege to care for patients at their most vulnerable point when they’re approaching the end of their lives. As I said before it makes a massive difference and it is the little things."

"If you can make the situation as good as possible, it is a real privilege to be involved in those patients and hearing their stories and supporting the families.”

Radio Aire's been asking for your experiences and messages of thanks. Here's what people had to say outside the LGI:

David from Leeds: “You are saints. You are saints. They are special people aren’t they? I think they could do with a bit more support and they’re something we should be really proud of.”

Oliver from Skipton: “I would say thank you so much to them and keep up the hard work because they are doing so well and if possible they definitely deserve some sort of wage rise or more benefits. They are incredible.”

"Recently I have had a son and he is now six weeks old. The midwives there were absolutely amazing and they looked after him really well and taught us a hell of a lot.

“Not only do they do their job, they do it with a smile on their face and are incredibly knowledgeable. Even in times where we are not positive, they are so I think midwives are very underrated."

Helen from Roundhay: “Based on my personal experiences, I couldn’t fault them basically. I have been in hospital for a few days and broken a leg, the aftercare has been good, and they don’t abandon you after you have left university.Oliver from Skipton: “Recently I have had a son and he is now six weeks old. The midwives there were absolutely amazing and they looked after him really well and taught us a hell of a lot.

The birthplace of Emergency Medicine

Last October Leeds celebrated 50 years of Emergency Medicine, and our Teaching Hospitals has been at the forefront of this specialty since the beginning.

Mr Maurice Ellis was a Consultant at the LGI became the first A&E consultant in the UK (with many also saying the first in the world), and it's widely regarded that Emergency Medicine all started right here in Leeds.

NHS 70

The success of the NHS is down to the "brilliance'' of its staff, chief executive Simon Stevens said as the institution celebrates its 70th anniversary.

He paid tribute to the 1.5 million doctors, nurses, ambulance staff, therapists, porters, caterers and others who, along with volunteers, make up the biggest care team in the world.

His message, filmed in an ambulance control room, came as the country marks 70 years since the birth of the NHS on July 5 1948.

Mr Stevens said: "Today we're marking the 70th birthday of the National Health Service.

"It's a time for celebration looking back over seven decades when we're all living a lot longer and healthier - more than 10 years extra.

"We've seen amazing medical advances, whether it's organ transplantations or new cures for cancer or vaccines.

"But the reason why the health service does so well is frankly due to the brilliance of the staff."

#LightUpBlue

The day of celebration will see scores of buildings across the country lit up in the NHS's trademark blue in a nod to the much-loved service.

Iconic landmarks and buildings across Yorkshire and the Humber will be lighting up in blue on the evening of 5 July to say ‘Happy Birthday’ to the NHS.

Landmarks in leeds confirmed to turn blue so far include:

Leeds First Direct Arena

Leeds Civic Hall

Leeds Town Hall

Big Screen at Millennium Square, Leeds

Bridgewater Place, Leeds

Leeds University

Merrion Centre, Leeds

People are encouraged to take photos and share them via social media using the hashtags: #NHS70 and #LightUpBlue.

NHS England’s Medical Director in Yorkshire and the Humber, Paul Twomey, said: “It is clear from the support we have had with regards to NHS 70 that everyone is really getting behind all the activities planned in Yorkshire and the Humber.

"The NHS is something to be proud of, for those who work within it and for those who benefit from the services provided and I am sure the celebrations taking place will be a reflection of this pride and the affection we all have for this great organisation.

“I hope everyone will join in the celebrations and take photographs of and selfies with the lit up buildings and share using #LightUpBlue.”

Thousands of Big 7Tea events are taking place across England to thank staff and raise awareness of NHS charities, while services will take place at Westminster Abbey and York Minster to pay tribute to NHS staff and patients.