Tuesday (5th July) marked the 74th birthday of the NHS, which is also celebrated annually with the NHS Big Tea – an event designed to celebrate the dedicated, skilled people who make up our NHS.
At Newcastle Hospitals, staff came together to craft cakes, prep pies and host Big Tea lunches with their colleagues. After a particularly challenging few years, this light-hearted event was an ideal way for Newcastle Hospitals staff celebrate the hard work of their community.
Above: Staff in Ophthalmology Outpatients at the RVI get involved in the NHS Big Tea
The NHS Big Tea, which was supported by Newcastle Hospitals Charity, the official charity of Newcastle Hospitals, spanned clinical and non-clinical areas across Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), the Freeman Hospital, in NHS community services across Newcastle, plus other sites, including the Lumen Building in Newcastle City Centre and Regent Point in Regent Centre.
Newcastle Hospitals Charity supplied around 350 Big Tea Packs to Trust staff, including decorations, posters and other little bits-and-pieces to encourage staff to ‘take 5’ for a well-earned cuppa. Some staff even chose to fundraise for Newcastle Hospitals Charity too, which was very gratefully-received by the charity.
Above: The Newcastle Hospitals Charity Team get involved in the NHS Big Tea
Teri Bayliss, Charity Director at Newcastle Hospitals Charity said: “The Big Tea is an event we look forward to each year, and it has been wonderful to see so many diverse teams coming together to reflect on their excellent work and celebrate the NHS. We were very impressed by the standard of baking this year too, there’s always a nice element of competition between staff!”
Newcastle Hospitals Charity and Gateshead Council also lit Gateshead’s Millennium Bridge blue on the evening of the Big Tea (5th July) as a tribute to NHS staff.
Above: Newcastle Hospitals Charity and Gateshead Council light the Millennium Bridge Blue for the NHS and NHS Big Tea. Pic by Gavin Forster.
