UK (Aston University) Aston University lights up blue to celebrate 75th anniversary of the NHS
- University library will be lit up in blue from 3 to 9 July
- Aston Medical School will see first new doctors graduate on 21 July
- First cohort of nursing students will start in September 2023.
Aston University is marking the 75th anniversary of the National Health Service (NHS) on 5 July by lighting up its library building in blue between Monday 3 July and Sunday 9 July.
Founded in 1948, the NHS was the first universal health system to be available to all, free at the point of delivery and now sees about 1.3m people a day.
In August 2022, across hospital and community healthcare services, the NHS employed (full-time equivalent) 130,398 doctors, 319,616 nurses and health visitors, 21,231 midwives, 157,098 scientific, therapeutic and technical staff and 17,870 ambulance staff.
The College of Health and Life Sciences at Aston University holds an established position as a leading provider for health and life sciences education and research. It is currently 2nd in the UK for Health Professions (Guardian University Guide, 2023) and top 20 in the UK for graduate prospects for subjects allied to Medicine (Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2023).
Aston Medical School welcomed its first medical students in 2018 and will see its first cohort of students graduate on Friday 21 July 2023.
The school, which received full GMC approval in May 2023, was built on the ethos of educating medical professionals of the future from a wide cross-section of society, in particular those from disadvantaged communities who have traditionally faced more barriers to accessing and completing medical education.
The medical school will also see its first intake of nursing students in September 2023. Approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the Nursing Studies BSc (Hons) will specialise in nursing adults with a focus on community nursing, with work placements offered in hospital and community settings to best reflect where the NHS most urgently needs nurses.
The NHS 75th anniversary also comes in the same year as the launch of Aston University’s new Master of Public Health programme.
Professor Anthony Hilton, Executive Dean of the College of Health and Life Sciences at Aston University, said:
“At Aston University we are developing the next generation of professionals in health and life sciences through innovative teaching and creating new knowledge through internationally recognised and transferable research.”
“We are proud of the strong relationship Aston University has developed with our local Trust partners and the contribution our graduates and researchers are making to the vital work of the NHS.
“We are looking forward to continuing to work with, and alongside, the NHS to support the research and development of world leading future healthcare innovations and delivery of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.”