On July 5th, the National Health Service was 75 years old. This key milestone, in the life of one of our most treasured institutions was marked with a special service at Rochester Cathedral on Monday 3rd July.

This was attended by just under 200 people, representatives of NHS organisations across Kent and Medway. It was good also to welcome leaders of the Trusts and those of the main faith communities to Rochester Cathedral. The Very Revd. Dr. Philip Hesketh presided and the Rt. Revd. Christopher Lowson, Honorary Assistant Bishop in London and Southwark gave the address.

We were reminded of the social justice aims of ‘our’ NHS, asked to be cheerful givers so ‘our’ NHS which was, is and always will be and alerted to the heart of our NHS which is tended by so diverse a workforce who work sacrificially in times of need, as was evident in the pandemic.