Celebrating the NHS at 78

On 5 July 2026, the NHS turns 78.

In today’s complex and often uncertain world, the NHS continues to remind us of what is possible when science, public service, and collective purpose align.

As we celebrate today, we honour its past while recognising the need to adapt for the future. The founding ideals of care that is free at the point of delivery and based on need rather than the ability to pay, remain as relevant as ever.

As an organisation working in partnership with NHS Trusts, our challenge, and our responsibility, is to support our people, embed a culture of safety and learning, embrace innovation, and ensure those principles continue to guide us as we build a sustainable, compassionate, and forward-looking health service for generations to come.