Hospitals encouraging people to join nation’s biggest tea break and support NHS heroes

Following a year like no other, The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) Charity wants as many people as possible to get involved in a national outpouring of love and thanks for NHS staff and volunteers on its birthday by hosting or taking part in an NHS Big Tea at 3pm on July 5.

Each event can be in person or virtual, with the community, friends, family or at work, and is a chance to reflect and say thank you for everything that NHS staff and volunteers have done and continue to do.

People can host their own event or they can show their support by taking five minutes to enjoy a tea break, and they can also fundraise for SaTH Charity if they wish to.

Julia Clarke, director of corporate services and SaTH Charity, said: “This year, July 5 will mark the 73rd Birthday of the NHS.

"Since July 5, 1948, the NHS has been there for our public day in and day out.

"This year has shown just how important our healthcare system is to everyone.

"We have been fighting a war behind closed doors, a war no-one expected.

“Our staff have really been at the heart of the pandemic and we welcome and encourage the opportunity for a national thank you to our staff.

"We also encourage the public to thank all key workers who have kept people safe and the country still working, and to thank themselves as without their support and cooperation things could have been much worse.

“Please put it in your diary to take five minutes to ‘brew a national thank you’, and if you plan to fundraise, please do it for our charity as it will go directly to helping our staff and patients.”

Ellie Orton, CEO of NHS Charities Together, which is behind the NHS Big Tea, said: “Many of us have a lot to be grateful to NHS staff and volunteers for following the year we have had. They have been at the forefront of the response to one of the biggest challenges our country has ever faced.

“NHS Big Tea is chance to show our support for them by joining a national outpouring of thanks this July.

“For many, this will be an outpouring of joy, celebrating the vaccine and all that it is allowing us to do again.

"For others, it will be an outpouring of thanks, for everything that our NHS champions have done for us. For some, sadly, it will be a moment of reflection for the loss of loved ones.

“Whatever the emotion, please join the nation’s biggest tea break to raise money for the incredible people in our NHS.”

To take part and get your pack, visit www.sath.nhs.uk/about-us/charity/nhs-big-tea-nhs-73rd-birthday or email sath.charity@nhs.net.