The monuments in the North East will turn blue before the 73rd anniversary of the NHS.
The Tyne Bridge in Newcastle, the Light Foundation in Sunderland AFC and the Millennium Bridge in Gateshead will be among the buildings and landmarks that light up tonight.
Richard Barker, NHS England and NHS Improvement regional director for North East and Yorkshire, said the anniversary of the founding of the NHS was a time to reflect on an extremely difficult year and celebrate its achievements, including the deployment of the Covid vaccination program.
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He said: ‘The 73rd anniversary of the NHS is a time to say a big thank you to our staff, partners, an army of volunteers and local communities for working so hard to ensure the extraordinary rollout of immunization against Covid-19.
“While marking, over the next few days, all that the NHS and its partners have achieved, we will also take a break, as a simple act of respect, to remember those who sadly lost their lives as a result of Covid. “
Richard said he was delighted to announce that once again we have had a strong and enthusiastic response to our call for ‘Light Up Blue’ to help mark the anniversary of the NHS.
He added: “On Saturday evening, from the White Seaburn Lighthouse and Bradford Town Hall to Leeds University Buildings and Yorkshire Town Hospitals, our area will become a beautiful blue lighthouse for the NHS anniversary.”
The latest list of locations participating in Light Up Blue features:
• Fondation de la lumière, the charitable association of Sunderland AFC
• the Gateshead Millennium Bridge
• South Shields Town Hall
• Newcastle Civic Center
• the Newcastle Tyne Bridge
• Sunderland City Council: Penshaw Monument; North Spire Bridge; place of the keel; Fullwell’s Mill; the white seaburn lighthouse
NHS flag flying
• Belsay Hall, castle and gardens, Northumberland
• Chateau Prudhoe, Northumberland
• Warkworth Castle, Northumberland.
Watch for social media updates and photos on Saturday night using the hashtag #NHSBirthday