NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers’ Day

The inaugural celebration of NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers’ Day takes place today, 5 July 2021, with Freemasons in Norfolk and across England helping lead the event.

The United Grand Lodge of England, the governing body for Freemasons, is inviting its 200,000 members to fly specially designed flags at 10am on 5 July, to celebrate this unique day dedicated to the NHS, social care and all those that work on the front line, who have saved so many lives during the pandemic. The celebration will also remember those workers we sadly lost.

As part of the event Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn, allowed Norfolk Freemasons a socially-distanced visit to the hospital’s Roxburgh Children’s Centre to show their support for NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers Day. They also got to meet young George Cullum, who was there with his Mum, Rebecca for his ongoing treatment at this busy day unit and to donate more of the popular Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) to the hospital. The national scheme managed by Freemasons for more than 20 years has donated almost 3.5 million teddies to hospitals, minor injuries clinics and other NHS services to comfort young children during times of distress.

Paediatric Pre-Assessment Nurse and Outpatient Sister, Nicola Staff who knows the scheme well as she’d had experience of the beneficial presence of TLC teddies from her previous role in Nottingham said “We are so grateful for all the help from Norfolk Freemasons with the bears, we all adore being able to hand them to the children and they never fail to raise a smile. They have comforted many children undergoing or about to undergo an uncomfortable procedure, such as blood tests, injections or chemotherapy”.

Bruno Peek, pageant master to the Queen and creator of NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers’ Day, said: “We are delighted that Freemasons, whose members come from all walks of life, are playing such a high-profile and active role to start this special day of celebration and commemoration of those within the NHS, social care and on the front line, who undertake so much for us all, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 52 weeks a year, without any thought of their own safety.”

In addition, Head of Norfolk Freemasons, Stephen Allen said: “As we slowly recover from the worst pandemic in living memory the NHS has never been so tested in its history. Its staff have been stretched beyond comprehension during the last year and deserve our gratitude, our applause and all the support we can give”.
#UGLENHSDay