Camden marks 75th anniversary of the NHS
Camden is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the NHS with an exhibition to showcase the achievements and contributions of their past and present staff.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the National Health Service - the country’s first universal free health care system that was created for everyone who needs it.
To celebrate the achievements and contributions of the NHS and their staff, the Council has partnered with Rankin Creative, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), London Metropolitan University, the London Irish Centre and Outernet London, to create a photo exhibition of the diverse communities in Camden who have worked or currently work for the NHS.
The exhibition, taking place at Outernet in Tottenham Court Road from 4 to 9 July, includes a series of powerful moving photographs taken by Rankin alongside voiceovers to explain the history and accomplishments of the service over the last 75 years.
Titled ‘Who Cares for Camden?' the exhibition explores the different forms of care, including who gives care, what it means to care, what motivates people to help others, and how communities can care for the NHS.
This exhibition gives us the chance to shine a light on the achievements and incredible work of NHS staff from Camden and acknowledge the challenges they’ve overcome in the past few years and continue to face. From the day they launched, the NHS have relied on staff from across the world to deliver their healthcare – from the Windrush Generation of 1948 to today’s workforce and is represented by over 200 nationalities. That’s why as we celebrate this milestone, we also celebrate the wonderfully diverse communities we have in the borough who have contributed to the NHS.
As we celebrate 75 years of the NHS, we thank staff – past and present – for all their hard work and commitment to supporting communities in the borough and beyond. The NHS is part of many of our lives, and I encourage as many people as possible to visit the Outernet exhibition to learn more about how Camden residents have helped shape the brilliant service it is today.
This is a really exciting opportunity to celebrate the 75th birthday of the NHS. We are delighted that UCLH staff have been invited to take part in a photo shoot with Rankin Creative. The portraits showcase the diversity and positivity of our staff and I hope they are enjoyed by everyone who sees them.
It is wonderful to see the contribution of Irish nurses and NHS staff included and celebrated in this exhibition. The story of Irish Nurses in the NHS is important, particularly for a borough like Camden which has such a long association with Irish migration.
The NHS 75 exhibition will take place at Outernet between 4 – 9 July. Outernet London is the new culture, arts and media district which features the most advanced immersive screen technology in the world. Every day, and for free. Outernet’s giant screens display immersive arts and culture programming creating unparalleled communal experiences for the public.
Home to UCLH, Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital, Camden has some of the biggest centres of care and health research in the country.
Camden’s NHS 75 programme will reflect and celebrate Camden communities that came from the commonwealth and beyond to work for the NHS, from the Windrush and Irish communities to all the 200 communities today who have been vital in keeping the NHS running.
Camden are working towards having an exhibition at the Town Hall from the 12 July for a month, before moving into a permanent home at the Camden Peoples Museum and Google Arts and Culture from the autumn.
For more information, head to Love Camden website.