Six-year anniversary event reflects on COVID impact and honours the work of NHS staff, frontline workers and volunteers

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8 March 2026

Today, in partnership with Leeds Hospitals Charity, we hosted a very special service of reflection at St James’s Hospital in Leeds, one of the areas most greatly impacted by COVID 19, to mark the sixth anniversary of the pandemic.

Taking place ahead of the National Day of Reflection on Sunday 8 March, the service brought together patients, families and NHS staff affected by the pandemic as well as senior representatives from the NHS and social care to remember those who lost their lives, reflect on the sacrifices made, and recognise the ongoing impact of the pandemic, including on those living with Long COVID.

The service included an original poetry reading from Leeds based poet and spiritual care coordinator, David Buck, along with a performance by singers from the Leeds Conservatoire and personal readings from NHS staff and people whose health was impacted by the pandemic. Five wreaths were laid to remember those who lost their lives in each of the four UK nations and internationally and attendees were offered the chance to hang a personalised heart on a tree of remembrance to honour a loved one.

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

“Today’s service was an important opportunity for us all to remember those we tragically lost during the pandemic but also to recognize the extraordinary work of health and social care staff, frontline workers, researchers and volunteers who did so much to look after us all during this challenging time, often at great risk to their own lives."

"Six years on from the start of the COVID 19 pandemic its impact is still being felt by NHS staff, patients and communities across the country, so it’s essential that we continue to support NHS Charities so that they can be there for us all when we need them most.”

The pandemic affected communities across the UK in different ways, with data indicating that the North of England was one of the areas most greatly impacted. A report by the Northern Health Science Alliance showed that, on average, rates of mortality attributable to COVID-19 during the first 13 months of the pandemic (March 2020 to March 2021) were 17% higher in the North than in the rest of the country.

Esther Wakeman, Chief Executive at Leeds Hospitals Charity said:

“We’re proud to be supporting NHS Charities Together to mark the Covid Day of Reflection here in Leeds. Our supporters went above and beyond to support hospital staff during the pandemic and charitable donations continue to support the work they do every day. Our NHS staff provide incredible care and support to patients and their families; it's important to take a moment to reflect and honour their service and dedication."

Thanks to generous donations during the COVID 19 Urgent Appeal, NHS Charities Together have been able to provide over a million NHS staff – two thirds of the workforce- with counselling, rest areas and other support and helped more than 600,000 patients access better care. NHS Charities played a pivotal role during the pandemic and continue to support NHS staff and patients dealing with its lasting effects as well as helping people in their local community to stay well and reduce pressure on the NHS.

Dr Elizabeth Garthwaite, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said:

“It is our privilege to host this Covid Day of Reflection event at St James’s University Hospital. Our colleagues at Leeds Teaching Hospitals – like so many across the NHS – showed extraordinary dedication and compassion, working tirelessly and selflessly to care for the patients in our community in the most challenging of circumstances. Sadly, many of those patients died in our hospitals but our colleagues were there to provide comfort when their loved ones were not able to be at their side."

“We lost colleagues, friends and family, we all made sacrifices to protect our loved ones and ourselves, and many continue to be deeply affected by what they experienced. Though time has passed, it remains important to pause and reflect on the Covid-19 pandemic and honour the remarkable NHS staff who gave their all in caring for patients, to stand with those who continue to be affected and to remember those who lost their lives.”

Naomi Anderson Whittaker is living with long Covid and welcomed the event as a chance for long Covid patients to share their stories:

“In 2020, I caught a severe case of Covid-19, and I went from a vibrant, super physically active, working young woman with two degrees; to someone immunocompromised and battling serious illness, gradually watching her health, memory, relationships, and career deteriorate. I’m grateful to the doctors who listened, empathised, and tried to find out what was wrong with me via various tests and referrals. They wanted to help, but unfortunately the NHS is too overstretched and needs more support and funding to fuel research, educate staff, and provide patients with the right structured physical rehab programmes, medications, and counselling."

“While we can’t click our fingers and find a cure for such a complex multisystemic condition in a flash, what we can do is provide appropriate support and gratitude for our busy and pressured NHS staff, so they can effectively treat Long Covid patients and give us back our dignity and hope. Today is a wonderful opportunity to highlight this and to thank NHS staff for everything they have done and continue to do to care for us.”

The service was held in the White Rose Wellbeing Garden at St James University Hospital in recognition of the important role time in green spaces and nature played in many people’s lives during the lockdowns.

Last year it was announced that NHS Charities Together will be partnering with DCMS and Forestry England to create a number of new COVID 19 commemorative spaces in healthcare and other settings across the country. We will be working with those affected by the pandemic to ensure the new spaces provide a place for reflection and remembrance as well as offering ongoing health and wellbeing benefits of time spent in nature.