HAPPY birthday, NHS. I know I am a week late but I’ve been busy! And my family will know that remembering birthdays is not my forte.

So last weekend our hospitals were lit up blue as a mark of respect. And pride and respect is what I feel.

Since its founding 72 years ago, the NHS has played a huge part in the health of the nation. It has developed and grown in way which would have seemed unimaginable back then. Illnesses which had no treatment are now fixed by advancements in science and drugs. And many, many lives have been enriched and prolonged by the services of the NHS.

It is perhaps the closest thing we now have to being a national religion. My journey in the health service started when I was 20, as a student psychiatric nurse at Highcroft hospital in Birmingham.

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I loved it then and was able to help people with mental health problems and drug misuse issues. My call to Christian ministry took me away from hospitals, but I always knew that I would be back some day.

And who can believe that I have now been at Worcestershire Royal for 11 years, serving the NHS in a different capacity.

Of course, many will have stories of thankfulness for the NHS; and some will have stories of mistakes which have been made as well. We are not perfect; so neither should we expect our health service to be; although every error is a tragedy.

But for now I am thankful for the way this hospital and others have treated my family and myself. The care they gave to my children with the inevitable accidents! The compassion and treatment they gave to my wife with her operation. The guidance and safe delivery of my grandchildren.

And the friendships and laughs I have had with my colleagues. I can’t imagine finding another job in a better place. Doubtless, at some stage, I will have passed my expiry date and have to leave the NHS. But for now I will say thank you NHS. The clapping may have stopped but the thankfulness remains.