NHS72: Portsmouth pays clapping tributes to NHS on 72nd anniversary

People showed their appreciation with a round of applause at 5pm to commemorate the efforts of all key workers and volunteers during the pandemic, which was broadcast live.

In Portsmouth, health workers clapped at Queen Alexandra Hospital to mark the occasion while people gathered on their doorsteps.

Armed forces paid tribute with Royal Navy sailors on board HMS Queen Elizabeth delivering a clap.

Southern Rail workers, Hampshire police and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance also got in on the act, as did HM Coastguard and council officials.

More than 100,000 hospital inpatients have been treated for Covid-19 in the UK, including prime minister Boris Johnson, along with many more who suffered with the virus at home.

The government's latest figures showed that 44,131 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Thursday, and a candlelit vigil was also held on Saturday night to remember them.

NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said hospital workers have only been able to pull the country through the pandemic thanks to a ‘national mobilisation’ of all key workers, from care assistants and supermarket shelf-stackers to transport workers.

Sir Simon said the NHS's anniversary was an opportunity to thank these key workers.

He said: ‘I think for the NHS there will be a sense of relief, having come through this huge first spike of coronavirus patients, but also people have been working incredibly hard.

‘There's a need to reflect and recharge the batteries while at the same time doing all the other brilliant things that the health service does.

‘This is a huge national effort and the NHS is hugely grateful for all the support it has received from all of the rest of the country.’

Sir Simon warned the NHS could have another ‘enormous job on our hands’ if a second virus spike sweeps the UK at the same time as seasonal flu, and urged people to continue observing social distancing.

He said: ‘Going into autumn and winter, we are going to have to continue to be vigilant about the possible resurgence of coronavirus.

‘Until such time as there is a vaccine, we know that it will be lurking across the world.’

Volunteers have carried out 450,000 tasks since the start of the pandemic according to The Royal Voluntary Service.

Annemarie Plas, who founded the #ClapforCarers initiative which lasted for 10 weeks following lockdown, said the NHS anniversary clap was a ‘beautiful moment’.

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