The National Health Service is 75 on Wednesday 5 July.
To mark the occasion, ESNEFT colleagues have shared what the NHS means to them.
Name: Tamasin King 
Title: Critical care outreach nurse specialist – critical care rehabilitation lead
Department: Critical care
Comment: The best part of my job is helping patients every day, making small or big differences in their journey. Treating them all as individuals, listening to their story and understanding that the small things matter. Working with a diverse team, learning every day and being part of the most recognised healthcare services in the world makes me proud to work for the NHS.
Name: Kofi Oburoni
Title: Student physiotherapist
Department: Outpatients Therapies
Comment: For me, the NHS is all about providing a great service, inclusivity, and making sure the patient is at the centre of everything we do.
Name: Tracey Risebrow 
Title: Workforce lead
Department: Nursing and Quality
Comment: I started my career with the NHS when I was 18 and, over 30 years later, it feels like I am part of a big international family.
Being part of an organisation that enables everyone to receive free healthcare is one of the things that makes me proud to be British.
Name: Emma Bass 
Title: Critical care outreach practitioner
Department: Critical Care
Comment: The NHS has provided me with the opportunity to become a dedicated and educated professional, committed to delivering non-judgemental and compassionate care and treatment.
The ethos of the NHS is more important now than ever, and I am proud to be part of that, and to dedicate my career to these values.
Name: Jo Rosier
Title: Research team lead haematology
Department: Research (based in Collingwood Centre, CH)
Comment: For me, above all, the NHS means equity of access; the founding values of the NHS remain as vitally important now as in 1948.
The rich and the poor are treated alike – poverty is not a disability, and wealth is not advantaged (Bevan 1952).
I am so proud to work for the NHS; I have seen lives saved, lives transformed and compassionate, world class care in my 27 years as a nurse working for the NHS.
Name: Kate Harrall 
Title: AHP clinical academic research lead and clinical specialist speech and language therapist
Department: Research/Speech and Language Therapy
Comment: I am proud of our NHS. The NHS means we can feel secure, protected and cared for. Safe in the knowledge that we will receive the healthcare we need, irrespective of our ability to pay.
Name: Tim Parratt 
Title: Consultant orthopaedic surgeon
Department: Orthopaedics
Comment: I feel so privileged to be able to work as a surgeon in the NHS. We are lucky to have such a system which sees us from cradle to grave. Despite the difficulties it faces there is no other job that I’d rather do.
Name: Nyasha Nago 
Title: Clinical research & development lead
Department: Research
Comment: For me the NHS means endeavouring to make research accessible to our service users and staff.
Research in the NHS enables the provision of evidenced-based healthcare that improves patient outcomes and transforms healthcare in a constantly changing world.
Name: Harry Bowen 
Title: Staff network coordinator
Department: Human Resources
Comment: When I was 11 years old, the NHS saved my life. They worked tirelessly to ensure my recovery and gave me the support I needed for years to get better. I would not be where I am today without them and am incredibly grateful for all of our amazing staff, past, present and future.
“Being able to work for the NHS has been an honour, I’ve made lifelong friends and have had the joy of working with some of the greatest teams anyone could ask for. I look forward to my time in the NHS and to continue giving back as a thank you to everything they have done for me.
Name: Val Nicholson 
Title: Acute oncology nurse, Macmillan CUP / Sarcoma clinical nurse specialist
Department: Oncology
Comment: Having had my own personal experience of the NHS, from having surgery to giving birth, it’s always amazed me what a wonderful organisation and service we have. I have dedicated 23 years to the NHS, mostly in cancer care.
“I am inspired daily by my colleagues, observing dedication, passion and true commitment even in the most trying of times. We are not just part of the hospital we work in, we are part of the NHS.
I am proud of working within such good humanity, with so many selfless staff whom we hold the core value of providing the best care we can.
It’s a huge privilege to be a Macmillan nurse, being someone’s point of contact and the person they can safely express their fears and worries to when needed. The NHS allows me to do the job I truly love.
Name: Chris Brammer
Title: Senior communications officer
Department: Communications & Engagement
Comment: The NHS was there when I needed it, offering unwavering support and first-class care.
I am now proud to be part of that very organisation, working for ESNEFT, giving my best every day, and playing a small part in ensuring our patients receive the best care.
Name: Josephine Benson
Title: Midwife
Department: Deben Ward at Ipswich Hospital
Comment: The one thing I am really proud of in this career is the team work. Knowing that you are not alone in the care you are providing is priceless.
I would like to say a big thank you to all of the maternity staff for the support they have given me and confidence they’ve shown in me since I joined ESNEFT – it really does mean a lot.
Name: Morven Angus
Title: Macmillan lead cancer nurse
Department: Cancer & Diagnostics
Comment: I am immensely proud of what the NHS delivers to communities every day. It’s all about people, who deserve the best health and quality of life possible.
NHS staff genuinely care about delivering care that makes a difference to people’s lives. Whilst we all recognise the pressures, having an NHS that is free, equitable and innovative really matters and is enormously rewarding to work in.
Name: Dr Ben Marlow 
Title: Consultant paediatrician (Neurodevelopment)
Department: Women’s and Children’s
Comment: For the most vulnerable children with complex health and learning needs, the NHS represents a life-saving service that tries to support and empower these families to lead happy and healthy lives.
Name: Pam Talman
Title: Butterfly service coordinator
Department: Nursing & Quality
Comment: When I see or hear the words NHS, I think of kind, caring and compassionate individuals who make up one gigantic, diverse team that is prepared to go that extra mile for others.
The colleagues I work with are wonderful people and our volunteers are second to none.
Name: Mo Slack 
Title: District nursing sister and lead nurse
Department: Felixstowe Integrated Neighbourhood Team
Comment:
I started working for NHS 50 years ago and retire this year.
The NHS has been my life. I have seen so many changes. If you look at us as a nursing profession, we have become a really skilled workforce and are now trained to do what the doctors once used to do.
Name: Debo Ademokun
Title: Division clinical director
Department: Cancer and Diagnostics
Comment: The NHS is certainly character building. The everyday smiles and thanks exchanged between grateful patients and tired, but still cheerful, staff are priceless. For each small difference-making outcome – it’s worth it.
At the moment it’s all-inclusive, but for how much longer? It’s certainly worth fighting for, but it needs to adapt.
Name: Teresa Robinson
Title: District nurse
Department: Felixstowe Integrated Neighbourhood Team
Comment: I have worked for the NHS for more than 30 years. When I first started, there weren’t really carers as there are now. We did a lot of the caring work such as showering people, but when they started to introduce carers we stepped back from that.
I wouldn’t have done anything else in my life. I am retiring this year, but I am two years over my retirement date!
Name: Pride Mukungurutse 
Title: Pathways to Diagnostics practice placement manager
Department: Education
Comment: The NHS is a place for growth, both professionally and personally.
With over 350 roles, there are many pathways one can take to either develop in their chosen career or apply previous skills and knowledge to embark on a new career.
There is educational, as well as mentoring and coaching support. The pastoral support available cultivates the growth and development of relationships with colleagues that become your adopted second family.
This support and relationships are important particularly for our overseas staff who are away from home and their families to enable integration and professional growth.
Name: Anisha Sharma
Title: Senior interface pharmacist
Department: Medicines management team
Comment: Being a part of the NHS and contributing to the well-being of society is a real privilege.
Name: James Ling
Title: Head of IT service delivery
Department: Digital and Logistics
Comment: The NHS saved my mum. It is made up of a wonderful group of people, who do amazing things. I’m so proud to be a tiny part of it.
Name: Emma Blowers
Title: General manager for planned care & neighbourhood working
Department: North East Essex Community Services division
Comment: Working in the NHS has enabled me to work with so many passionate, caring and talented professionals over my 14 years of service.
I am also forever grateful for the exceptional care my daughters’ received from the NHS when they were born prematurely. I am very proud to tell people that I am part of the NHS.
Name: Evelyn Catto 
Title: Integrated Neighbourhood Team manager
Department: Felixstowe Integrated Neighbourhood Team
Comment: The people who I work with in the NHS are like my family.
When they fall down I want to be able to pick them up in the same way that they would pick me up if I fell.
Name: Lu Camilo
Title: Student adult nurse
Department: Felixstowe Integrated Neighbourhood Team
Comment: The NHS means so much to me. I always wanted to be a nurse, but then a few years ago I was poorly myself while I was pregnant with my son.
I thought it was amazing how the NHS looked after me. They saved my life and that of my baby. I can’t praise it enough. It’s so important for this country and for me personally.
Name: Rossa Baker
Title: Senior matron reconfiguration of orthopaedic services, Essex & Suffolk Elective Orthopaedic Service (ESEOC)
Department: MSK and Specialist Surgery
Comment: I love the NHS. I was born in the NHS. I have grown up in the NHS. I have been treated in the NHS, as have members of my family. I have worked in the NHS for over 40 years and still enjoy the privilege bestowed on me to care for and support others.
Name: Bhupinder Sihra
Title: Consultant in paediatric allergy and respiratory medicine at Colchester Hospital
Department: Paediatrics
Comment: My first experience of the NHS was as a child, shortly after our family moved to the UK in 1973 from the heat of Kenya to the depths of winter and my brother and I went down with sore throats and coughs.
The new family GP, Dr Adams, came over to our house, knew our names, talked to us and, after prescribing medicine, popped by every evening that week on his way home to check we were improving.
Nowadays, the idea of such personal caring may seem to be from a lost era, but over almost four decades of working for the NHS as a paediatrician, I have – time and time again – met so many doctors, nurses, HCAs and support staff whose sole focus has been to provide their best care for children and their families.
Even though the NHS at 75 will undoubtedly still have to face difficult challenges in years coming, it will continue to face them with not just quality but also kindness and compassion.
Name: Dr Julia Thompson 
Title: Consultant in palliative medicine
Department: Medical Leadership
Comment: It has been a privilege to work in this great institution over the last 23 years. There is so much kindness displayed every day.
Name: Dee Onyenze
Title: Site matron (Operations)
Department: Operations
Comment: To me, NHS is the most important organisation we have in this country. NHS provides care to people regardless of their culture, age, gender, ethnicity, and their background.
Working for the NHS has taught me that the smallest things do make the biggest impact.
The best feeling is when you make a positive impact to patients’ lives or are able to provide a life-saving treatment for patients and watch them recover.
NHS is collaborative working, and an emblem of a compassionate and caring society that looks after the vulnerable.
Name: Light Onyekachi
Title: Biomedical scientist
Department:
I have had the privilege of witnessing the incredible work the NHS does day in and day out.
The NHS is not just a healthcare system, it is a lifeline for millions of people across the United Kingdom.
What makes it truly special is its commitment to providing free healthcare to everyone…no one is left behind and everyone has access to the same high-quality care.
Name: Melissa Purnell 
Title: Head of advanced clinical skills and simulation
Department: Strategy, Research & Innovation
Comment: Working within the NHS is a huge privilege. To be able to provide high standards of care to all patients, regardless of their background is an amazing feeling. Patients are at the forefront of all we do – whether working in acute settings, community or in an education role.
There is a continued commitment to delivering compassionate, high quality care to ensure everyone receives the same, to ensure everyone is aware that they are important.
Name: Nicky Bullard
Title: Service manager (Care Coordination Centre)
Department: Integrated Therapies
Comment: I am proud to work for the NHS and lead a team that serves the community patients.
Without NHS community services many patients would end up in hospital or suffer alone at home.
The NHS community team support many end of life patients that wish to end their time in their own home. Without the NHS this would not be possible.
Name: Lara Burgess 
Title: Senior therapeutic radiographer
Department: Cancer and Diagnostics
Comment: The NHS is a like safety net that catches us when we need it most. It’s held together by people who use their skills to truly care for the people they come into contact with.
My profession as a Therapeutic Radiographer fits my personality and I feel purpose in what I do.
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