North Yorkshire celebrates the NHS at 73
York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is marking NHS, Social Care and Frontline Worker Day.
NHS staff in North Yorkshire are joining together, to celebrate the health service's work during the pandemic - and to reflect on the sacrifices made.
It's NHS, Social Care and Frontline Worker Day (5th July), and the 73rd birthday of the health service.
Sue Symington is Chair of York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust:
"There will be tea parties all round to thank our staff today, but we've also done lots of things in the leadup.
"We've had ice cream vans come to the hospitals; we've sent thank you cards; dropping through the letterboxes of staff are little thank you badges, and we were able to award every staff member an extra day's holiday on their birthday in the course of the year ahead.
"I've spoken to many members of staff and they would all say that it's the most difficult time that they've ever had in their careers in the NHS.
"In the beginning we didn't know much about the virus and there was anxiety about PPE. People have worked in really difficult conditions, and we will remember the sadness in all of that.
"We had I think about 2,800 Covid patients in our hospitals - many of them went home, but 600 didn't. We remember those who didn't survive the pandemic, and a couple of them were part of our staff.
"Understanding what the pandemic meant for people who worked in the NHS isn't all done yet - there's a lot left to do for people to come to terms with what's happened.
"We've been overwhelmed with the support of the public, and I think they already respect and admire the work of our staff".