Rutland landmarks to light up blue for NHS tonight
The National Health Service is celebrating its 75th birthday today
Landmarks across Leicester and Rutland will be used to celebrate the NHS' 75th anniversary today.
Normanton Church and Oakham Castle will be lit up blue to mark the occasion, as well as County Hall in Leicester.
County Hall will also hold a special exhibition from 3 to 14 July, with historical memorabilia and photos on display documenting the NHS' evolution.
Staff nurse Nigel Carter has been looking after patients at Leicester's hospitals for 43 years, and has been specially invited to a service at Westminster Abbey tonight to mark the occasion.
He said lots has changed since when he started in 1981, but he's reminded every day why he still does the job:
'I started on mental health for older people. We were actually given white coats in those days; all the patients were in dormitories and it was very much like we were their family.'
'We've come a long way on our journey from, say, Florence Nightingale to where we are now. So, to be able to celebrate what nurses have done over the 75 years - it's an honour.'
He added: 'We have files full of thank you cards from relatives. It isn't unusual when discharging patients that their relatives will want to give you a hug to say thank you.'