'Thank you to the NHS - from the bottom of our hearts'

75 YEARS OF THE NHS

At so many important moments in our lives, the NHS is by our side. It's there to welcome us into the world, to heal us when we're sick and take care of us as we grow older. Quite simply, the NHS is part of our life story.

This year our NHS turns 75. At this milestone moment in the history of the health service, we're taking the time to say thank you.

Thank you to the staff and volunteers at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. For taking care of us. For supporting our friends and families. For always being there, day and night.

Here, five people who each have their own experience of care at one of Imperial College Healthcare's hospitals share their personal messages of gratitude to the

1948 - 2023 incredible NHS heroes who cared for them when they were most in need. You can join the 75th anniversary celebrations this year too. Find out how you can get involved and share your own thank you message at imperialcharity.org.uk/nhs-75

THANK YOU ... from Shahnaz

In 2018, following a severe brain aneurysm, I received world class treatment from the neurosurgery team at Charing Cross Hospital. I was under the care of Mr Kevin O’Neill and Dr Abhinav Singh, who successfully treated the aneurysm with surgery. As well as the exceptional treatment I received, their optimistic outlook and moral support was an invaluable source of hope to my daughters when things were looking very bleak, and for this I am especially grateful. I would also like to thank the wonderful nurses in intensive care who took great care of me whilst I was most unwell. My daughters later told me that one of the nurses - Maria - had been kind enough to spend hours during her night shift washing my matted hair, a gesture by which we were very moved. The outstanding care I received highlights the NHS at its best. Thank you once again from the bottom of my heart, Mr O'Neill and Dr Singh, for not giving up on me.

THANK YOU ... from Trevor

To the doctors, nurses and support teams at Charing Cross Hospital's 7 South ward, I would like to say thank you. I have been treated in numerous NHS and private hospitals, and the experience I had at Charing Cross was at least first equal. The atmosphere, the care, the treatment and even the food was excellent. To me as a patient, there was no visibility of the extreme levels of pressure on the NHS and all its staff. Thank you heroes!

THANK YOU ... from Tabitha

THANK YOU ... from Helen

THANK YOU ... from Chris

In 2018 I was diagnosed with a heart condition known as Aortic Valve Disease. The care and support that I have received from all the consultants, doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals has been absolutely wonderful and truly outstanding. I am so very grateful to the amazing team at Charing Cross Hospital in London for the incredible work that they do every single day. We are so very lucky to have the National Health Service. Thank you so much for everything you've done to help me. I am eternally grateful.

The way you looked after our girls was extraordinary. We were convinced at every handover that something magic was at play - as at St Mary's Hospital we just happened to have the perfect nurse, consultant, physio and registrar for that exact moment in time. Which just shows how brilliant every one of you is and how much we grew to trust you all with our babies. We will be forever grateful for every kind word, every dummy dip, the many-handed lift-offs, test result drumrolls and utter patience as our world fell around us. We hope you all take enormous pride in our daughter’s recovery. We will never forget the medical advice but also the parenting tips and tricks you have imparted. You truly are a world-class group of individuals and your words and actions will stay with us forever.

98%

When I was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer during the first lockdown in June 2020, another patient told me that Prof Christina Fotopoulou at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust was the most wonderful ovarian cancer surgeon. I was therefore very happy when my oncologist told me that Christina would be my surgeon. As soon as we met, she put me at ease with her empathy and compassion, while telling me that my cancer treatment would be really demanding. I put all my trust in her and she was always available, whenever I had challenges during chemotherapy or concerns during my return to fitness the following year. I could not be more grateful to Christina and her team at Imperial College Healthcare - I owe her my life and thank them with all my heart.

We're proud to be working in partnership with The Parasol Foundation to support groundbreaking research, including research led by Christina and her team, into ovarian cancer. Female scientists will be at the forefront of this work, with a focus on creating opportunities for women to progress in research. The project is being funded by a £2.68m donation from Ms Ruth Monicka Parasol and The Parasol Foundation, which has a strong commitment to improving women’s health.