SCOTS are being urged to hold the “biggest and loudest” clap tonight to thank health and care staff and celebrate the 72nd birthday of the NHS.
Landmarks across the country, including the Wallace Monument in Stirling and Glasgow’s SSE Hydro, were lit up in blue last night to mark the founding of the health service on July 5, 1948.
People were also encouraged to observe a minute’s silence and light a candle last night in remembrance of people who have died during the coronavirus pandemic.
The nationwide clap follows the success of the weekly Clap for Carers during the coronavirus outbreak and it is hoped that the applause, which is planned for 5pm on Sunday, will become an annual tradition.
READ MORE: 72 years of our NHS: The Doctor, Nurse & Ambulance Technician
Speaking on Friday about the event, Scotland’s National Clinical Director Jason Leitch said: “It’s important that we celebrate these anniversaries each year, but this year feels more important than ever.
“During the early stages of this pandemic we demonstrated our appreciation for health and care staff and other key workers with the Clap for Heroes on Thursday evenings.
“So on Sunday evening at 5pm we want to have the biggest and loudest clap yet across the whole of the UK – but we want Scotland’s clap to be louder than everybody else’s.”
Other public buildings across the UK, including the Royal Albert Hall, Blackpool Tower, the Shard and the Wembley Arch will also be lit up in blue in tribute to the NHS.
Ahead of the anniversary, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman sent a letter to NHS staff thanking them for their “phenomenal” efforts during the coronavirus pandemic. She said: “In this 72nd year, our NHS Scotland has had to respond in ways it has never had to at any point in its history. The NHS – and that really means every single member of NHS staff, has had to respond very quickly to the demands of a pandemic on a new virus about which we are continually learning.”
Meanwhile the emergency hospital set up in Glasgow will receive its first patients in July as the NHS recovers from the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.
NHS Louisa Jordan was built at the Scottish Events Campus (SEC) in April but has not been needed for Covid-19 patients.
It will now be used to help the NHS resume normal services by hosting some orthopaedic outpatient consultations.
READ MORE: ‘The NHS saved my life when I was a baby ... and it’s still doing it'
The hospital will also be used for staff training, teaching and examinations as it provides enough space for social distancing.
Set-up costs for the hospital, which has capacity to treat an initial 300 patients, were around £38 million.
Freeman said: “As we begin to resume some paused NHS services safely, carefully and in a series of stages, this national hospital will play an important role in helping our NHS recover by providing planned healthcare for non-Covid outpatients.
“It will also ensure the sustainability of our NHS workforce as the clinical setting, alongside the ability to maintain physical distancing, will allow undergraduates and postgraduates to carry out training, teaching and examinations, and support training for the wider health and social care workforce in Scotland.”
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