On July 5, back in 1948, one of the greatest institutions in this country was founded: the NHS. Providing millions of people up and down the country with free healthcare, the NHS is a cornerstone of British society. And to celebrate the service’s 75th anniversary, buildings and landmarks around the country will ‘light up blue’.
Two years ago, for the NHS’s 73rd anniversary, over 70 landmarks around the country lit up to commemorate the occasion. This year’s anniversary lighting, on the evening of July 5, is well on the way to smashing that number.
Where can I see the sky light up blue in the South West?
The only buildings expected to light up blue in Bristol are Ashton Gate Stadium and Southmead Hospital. But The Roman Baths will also illuminate blue colours on Wednesday. In fact, Somerset will show its support across the county at Bridgwater Bridge, Clarks Village, County Hall in Taunton, Somerset County Council offices and National Trust’s Wellington Monument. Elsewhere in the South West, Gloucester Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral, Swindon Central Library and St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall will also light up blue,
Plenty of other national landmarks will light up blue across the UK too. Including the London Eye and The Shard, Brighton’s Royal Pavilion, the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool, and Blackpool Tower, to name just a few. Together they’ll turn the skyline blue to honour a service that works incredibly hard every day.
All of this comes during a time when the service faces underfunding and under-resourcing, coupled with huge demand and staff shortages. While no one thinks the night-time illuminations will solve any of that. But we only hope that a visible shared symbol of the nation’s love for the NHS will remind the government how important the service is.
A full list of the buildings that are confirmed to be lighting up blue for NHS75 tomorrow night (July 5) can be found here. Everyone is encouraged to take photos and share the moment using the hashtags #NHS75 and #LightUpBlue.