This year, on Wednesday 5 July the NHS is celebrating a big birthday – an amazing 75 years old.

Formed at a time of great uncertainty in 1948 but created with optimism and hope the founding principles of the NHS remain as relevant and valued today as they did then. While a lot has changed over the past seven decades, the NHS has remained a constant in all our lives – a true British institution. One that has no doubt, touched all our lives at some point.

Today the NHS in England treats 1.3 million people a day. The NHS continues to innovate and adapt to meet the needs of each successive generation and while technological and medical advancements have enabled us to provide better healthcare. One thing has remained constant, our patients remain at the heart of everything we do.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the skill, dedication and compassion of the people who work and volunteer in the NHS.

In Somerset there are around 17,000 people who work for the NHS in some capacity– from the midwives who help bring new life into the world to the nurses, doctors and specialists who care for us in our time of need, from our GPs and pharmacists who are our first port of call when we are unwell, to the porters, cleaners, receptionists and the thousands of dedicated staff and volunteers who help keep everything moving. Our people are the driving force.

This year, as we commemorate this significant anniversary, celebrating the positive impact the NHS in Somerset has had on all our lives. We can all play a role in supporting the NHS in this special birthday year. We would love to hear from you - whether you have or are still working in the NHS, are a patient or a volunteer - your stories matter and we would love to celebrate and share them.