Gary celebrates NHS anniversary with local hospital visit

Today, Gary Mabbutt joined staff from North Middlesex University Hospital to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the NHS.

Along with thousands of schools, hospitals and homes, North Mid took part in the NHS Big Tea event and hosted guests in a new garden at the hospital which has been specifically created for staff to enjoy.

Legendary former captain and Club Ambassador Gary spent the afternoon talking to NHS staff and thanking them for all their incredible hard work, as well as having photos taken.

Over the weekend, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was illuminated blue to celebrate the NHS’s 73rd birthday.

Our stadium joined landmarks including the London Eye, Wembley Arch and Waterloo Station clock in paying tribute to NHS staff and all key workers who have worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gary said: “I was delighted to be part of this special occasion to celebrate the anniversary of the NHS and give thanks to our NHS heroes who have gone above and beyond during the pandemic to look after our community. It was a great afternoon, and it was lovely to be able to celebrate what the NHS and its staff have done for us all. I hope all the staff at North Mid enjoy their new garden for some well-earned respite.”

Dr Andy Heeps, interim Chief Executive, North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, said: “This past year has no doubt been difficult in a number of different ways; staff have worked tirelessly to care for our local communities, people have been separated from their loved ones and lost those close to them.

“Each and every one of our staff has certainly risen to the challenge of the last year and today we are celebrating them and all those that make our National Health Service so great. Happy 73rd birthday NHS.”

Throughout these unprecedented times, the Club has continued to work closely with North Mid in its fight against COVID-19.

In April 2020 - at the height of the first wave of the pandemic - our stadium’s world-class facilities were transformed to assist our local hospital.

Between April and July last year, the stadium’s dressing rooms, medical and media facilities were transformed to host North Middlesex’s University Hospital Women’s Outpatient Services.

This was designed to free up much-needed capacity at the hospital itself to treat patients facing COVID symptoms while supporting the redirection of pregnant women away from the hospital. Over 41,500 appointments were delivered at the stadium, with drive-through COVID-19 testing also taking place in the stadium’s basement car park for hospital staff and their families until February 2021.

Although North Mid services have now returned to the hospital itself, the stadium continues to be used in the fight against COVID-19, most recently hosting two mass vaccination clinics in its West Level 1 concourse.

The Club has continued to build on its strong relationship with North Mid, hosting the hospital’s virtual staff awards in March and donating use of the pitch for a staff football match in May as a way of thanking local NHS heroes who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic.

In addition, the Club’s unique partnership with North Mid was shortlisted for the ‘Innovative Use of the Built Environment in Support of Healthcare’ at this year’s HSJ Awards. Known within the healthcare industry as the ‘NHS Oscars’, the HSJ Awards celebrate healthcare excellence within the UK.