UNISON, the largest union within the NHS, held events for both patients and staff in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Grovetree House Elderly Persons Home and the Regional Cancer Centre at the Belfast City Hospital.

Patricia McKeown, UNISON regional secretary, said the locations were chosen for a reason.

“The three sites provide services for a diverse range of clients, from young children right through to the elderly, making a positive difference to the life of our community every day of the week,” she said.

“We are immensely proud of our Health Service; it represents the very best in all of us - caring for each other.

“We should celebrate our health service and more importantly the fact that it is free at the point of need for all of us. Imagine a world where we all have to buy our health and social care and the hardship which this would cause particularly for the most vulnerable in our society. 

“We are proud of our NHS, although we continually strive to make it better. In choosing these three sites we seek to demonstrate how our health service not only adds years to life but also quality to life.”  

She said the new Belfast Trust is working on two groundbreaking projects in the Children’s Hospital and Grovetree House, designed to improve care for patients and residents while developing and up-skilling staff.

She said the celebrations were a ‘thank you’ to all patients and staff. Belfast Community Circus provided entertainment for the children, the Kingfisher String Quartet performed at the cancer centre, and local musicians Harry Hamilton and Ivan Black had a sing-along and dancing with the residents of Grovetree House.

Birthday cakes were also baked for each of the locations, and special guest, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey, presented the children at the Royal Hospital with their slices.

l Gordon Brown visited staff and patients at a hospital yesterday to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the NHS.

The Prime Minister toured the Sunderland hospital’s new cardiology lab and vowed to help make the NHS the envy of the world for a further 60 years.

He said the NHS would become more focused on providing preventative care.

“I injured myself playing rugby when I was at school in the late 60s,” he said, “and I needed an operation in hospital.

“The nurses and surgeons there worked wonderfully and they saved my eyesight.”

He said the nation should be proud of the NHS.