TO mark the 70th birthday of the NHS, a hospitals trust organised a tea party for members of staff who are the same age or older than the NHS.

An event took place in the Ark Conference Centre, Basingstoke hospital, with a group of older members of staff from across the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust honoured for their service to the NHS over the years.

Marge Day, 71, has been a health care assistant at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital for 12 years. She said: “Making sure that patients receive the best care is what motivates me on a daily basis as well as meeting new people. It was very nice to meet other staff.”

Elizabeth Padmore, chairman of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester, and Andover War Memorial Hospital, celebrated with staff at the event.

She said: “It was lovely spending time with some of our older members of staff, a number of whom have worked here over 40 years. It was fascinating to hear their stories of what has changed and what hasn’t.

“It is our people who make us such a wonderful organisation and everyone plays a vital role, whether that’s repairing medical equipment, working on the wards, helping bereaved families or portering. It was an honour for me to meet this group of staff and celebrate all that they do.”