West Suffolk will #LightUpBlue to help celebrate NHS

The ancient Abbey Gate to the more modern Apex building in West Suffolk will #LightUpBlue tonight, May 12, as part of a national campaign to honour the NHS.

West Suffolk Council has backed the campaign which was originally intended to mark the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale and celebrate the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife.

However, during this time of coronavirus the value and importance of the NHS has been further highlighted and now the “Light Up Blue To Say Thank You” event will celebrate all NHS staff past and present as well as key workers.

The lights on the Abbey Gate and Apex in Bury St Edmunds, will be kept blue this week for the national clap for the NHS, carers and key workers whose hard work and dedication as helped protect the country.

The Abbey Gate and Apex, both managed by West Suffolk Council, will join buildings across the country and Suffolk taking part in the event, including:

St Edmundsbury Cathedral

Royal Hospital School, Holbrook

Clacton Pier

Ipswich Waterfront

Ipswich Town Hall

Clacton Town Hall

Colchester Town Hall

Colchester Castle

Ipswich and Colchester hospitals

John Griffiths, Leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “We are proud to play our part in marking this international year of the Nurse and Midwife and will be lighting up the Apex and Abbey Gate in Bury St Edmunds. We are more grateful than ever for the hard work and dedication of nurses and midwives as well as the whole of the NHS, a key partner for us in our social prescribing work, and the whole medical profession. We will be keeping the Abbey Gate and Apex lit up for Thursday as part of the weekly clap for the NHS, carers and key workers.”

Lisa Nobes, chief nurse for NHS Ipswich and East Suffolk, NHS West Suffolk and NHS North East Essex clinical commissioning groups, said: “This year’s Year of the Nurse and Midwife was intended to highlight the great work done by our nursing and midwifery staff, and there’s no doubt that during this time of coronavirus we value their work even more and thank them for everything they are doing.

“It is wholly appropriate though we widen this #LightUpBlue event as an opportunity to thank all NHS staff and key workers across the community. This is a difficult time for many, but it is cheering that there is so much community spirit present, with people looking out for each other.”

The #LightUpBlue celebration will be happening across the country.