NHS charities unite to celebrate the NHS's 78th birthday

An open letter to mark the NHS’s 78^th birthday celebrates the role charities play in helping the NHS go further.

More than 50 NHS charities from across the UK have added their names to the letter, recognising the extraordinary contribution of the NHS and the people who make it what it is.

Representing hospital, mental health, ambulance and community NHS charities, the letter highlights the role charities play in supporting patients, staff and communities.

Together, NHS charities invest around £1.5 million into healthcare each day, funding projects that improve patient care, support staff wellbeing, drive innovation and strengthen local health services.

Ellie Orton OBE, Chief Executive of NHS Charities Together, said:

The letter reflects the strength of the NHS charity sector and a shared commitment to helping the NHS meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Every NHS Trust and Health Board is supported by its own local NHS charity. Whether it's funding specialist equipment, creating welcoming spaces, supporting staff wellbeing or investing in new ideas, NHS charities help the NHS go further.

As the NHS celebrates its 78th birthday, we're encouraging everyone to find out more about their local NHS charity and the difference it's making in their community.

Signed

1.       Ellie Orton OBE, Chief Executive, NHS Charities Together

2.       Jo O'Sullivan, Charity Director, UHCW Charity

3.       Jonathan McGee, CEO, Northamptonshire Health Charity

4.       Neil Harman, Charity Director, CNWL NHS Health Charity

5.       Molly Simpson, Head of Charity, Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity

6.       Sam Paterson, Corporate Fundraising Lead, Nottingham Hospitals Charity

7.       Carl Wheatley, Chief Executive, The WISHH Charity - Hull and East Riding Hospitals

8.       Jon Spiers, CEO, Royal Free Charity

9.       Jill Matthews, Charity Chief Officer, Derby and Burton Hospitals Charity

10.  Stephanie Pomeroy, Fundraising Manager, Cornwall Community NHS Charity

11.  Rachel Backshall, Charity Director, Norfolk & Norwich Hospitals Charity

12.  Shelley McCarthy, Charity Chief Officer, NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation

13.  Teri Bayliss, Charity Director, Newcastle Hospitals Charity

14.  Johnny Shah, Director of Charity, Your City & Metropolitan Hospitals Charity

15.  Lila Dowie, Head of Fundraising, Surrey and Borders Partnership Foundation Trust Charity

16.  Katie Stewart, Fundraising and Engagement Coordinator, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Charity

17.  Daniel O'Brien, Fundraising Manager, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Charity

18.  Sarah Gascoyne, Charity Administrator, United Lincolnshire Hospital Charity

19.  Lucy Skipworth, Charity Manager, The Health Tree Foundation (Northern Lincolnshire & Goole NHS Foundation Trust)

20.  Tonya Chalker, Charity Manager, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund

21.  Fiona Ashcroft, CEO, Alder Hey Children's Charity

22.  Mandy Jordan, Associate Director Charity, Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity

23.  Natalie Tarrant, Head of Charity, The Princess Alexandra Hospital Charity

24.  Claire Ashby, Head of Charity and Fundraising, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

25.  Liam Pickard, Charity Fundraising and Engagement Lead, Chesterfield Royal Hospital Trust Charity

26.  Esther Wakeman, CEO, Leeds Hospitals Charity

27.  Carey Taylor, Head of Charity, Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

28.  Alison Rosen, CEO, West Herts Hospitals Charity

29.  Wesley Partington, Director of Charity, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust/Pennine Care Charity

30.  Camilla Lane, Head of Fundraising and Voluntary Services, Queen Victoria Hospital Charity

31.  Nithee Patel, Head of Charity, Dudley Group NHS Charity

32.  Katy Vaughan, CEO, St George's Hospital Charity

33.  Laura Whitham, Fundraising Manager, Better Lives Charity for the Bradford District Care Foundation Trust

34.  Dr Douglas Graham, Chief Executive Officer, Oxford Hospitals Charity

35.  Ngozi Ikoku, Fundraising Manager, WUTH Charity

36.  Katie Walker, Chief Executive Officer, Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity

37.  Beth Crackles, Chief Executive, Sheffield Hospitals Charity

38.  Sophie Burt, Head of Fundraising and Community Development, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity

39.  Philip Brading, Chief Executive, UCLH Charity

40.  Eloise Huddleston, Charity Director, East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals' Charity

41.  Gail Scott-Spicer, Chief Executive, Imperial Health Charity

42.  Amanda Winwood, Charity Development Manager, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Charity

43.  Nichola Taylor, Head of Corporate Affairs and Charity, STS Charity

44.  Lisa Duthie, Charity Lead, NHS Grampian Charity

45.  Robert Dufton, Chief Executive, Moorfields Eye Charity

46.  Rachael Duke, Charity Director, Heads On, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's Charity

47.  Andrew Rose-Britton, Charitable Funds Committee Chair (Non-Executive Director), Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

48.  Nigel Gregory, CEO, Nottingham Hospitals Charity

49.  Joanne Watson, Strategic Charity Lead, Mersey Care NHS Charity

50.  Kila Redfearn, Head of Charity, Blue Skies Hospitals Fund.

51.   Zoe Larter, Head of Charity, South Western Ambulance Charity

52.  Sharon Brennan, Charity Communications and Marketing Manager, CNTW NHS Charity

53.  Rob Aldous, Director, Kingston Hospital Charity

54.  David Jenkins, Joint Director, Hillingdon Hospitals and London North West Healthcare NHS Charities

55.  Ali Sprason, Head of Charity and Partnerships, The Royal Orthopaedic Charity, The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital

56.  Mark Porter, Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity, Community Fundraiser