On July 5, 2023, the National Health Service (NHS) will celebrate its 75th anniversary.

Established in 1948 amidst uncertainty but with hope and optimism, the NHS's founding principles remain as relevant and valued today as they were then.

Despite significant changes over the past seven decades, the NHS has remained a constant in people's lives and has touched all of us in some way.

Today, the NHS in England treats 1.3 million people daily, and it continues to innovate and adapt to meet the needs of each new generation. However, one thing that has remained constant is that patients are at the heart of everything the NHS does.

Around 17,000 people in Somerset work for the NHS, from midwives to nurses, doctors, and specialists who care for people in their time of need, to GPs and pharmacists who are their first point of contact when they are unwell, to porters, cleaners, and receptionists.

The thousands of dedicated staff and volunteers who help keep everything moving are represented by over 200 nationalities, making them the driving force.

As we commemorate this significant anniversary, the NHS in Somerset is celebrating the positive impact the NHS in Somerset has had on people's lives.

Shelagh Meldrum, Chief Nursing Officer, NHS Somerset said, "I have loved nursing since my first training day. My career in health has spanned several roles both nursing and non-nursing but being a nurse has kept me focused on what we are here for – to care for people.

"Since I began my nurse training in 1987, going on to work as a senior nurse in acute medicine before becoming a specialist nurse in neurology and then into executive director roles - I have seen many changes both from a medical as well as a technological perspective, all of which seek to improve the care and treatment we provide and the outcomes for those who use our services.

"I am incredibly proud to have spent 22 years working for such a wonderful British institution, one which is by our side during the most profound moments in our lives and at its heart, is driven by one collective ambition – to care for patients.

"This year we want to celebrate the NHS and all it has achieved so this is a chance for people from across Somerset to help us build a picture of the impact it has had on their lives.

"We are keen to hear from people who have worked or are working in the NHS, hear their stories and find out what makes them do what they do, as well as hearing from past and present patients – whether they were born the same year the NHS was, or they simply want to talk about the care they have received – every story matters."

Today we cannot imagine life without the NHS. As we mark the 75th anniversary - we are not only looking back, but we are also looking ahead to the opportunities we have to help shape the future.

We can all play a role in supporting the NHS in this special birthday year. So, if you have a reflection, memory, or story you would like to share, we encourage you to get in touch – we want to build a picture of Somerset from across the years so we can celebrate all that we have achieved.

If you have a story or memory to share, the NHS would love you to get in touch - you can email your stories and photos to [email protected] - these will be collected and displayed in the run up to the anniversary.