"Thank You NHS" sign outside a primary school in Omagh, Northern Ireland

"Thank You NHS" was a social phenomenon in the United Kingdom during 2020 and 2021, for part of the COVID-19 pandemic, whereby people and organisations posted messages of support for members of the National Health Service and other key workers, to acknowledge their heavy workload as well as their risk of infection.

Large numbers of private individuals placed home-made signs in their windows and outside their homes to thank the NHS workers.[1][2][3] The handmade posters frequently featured drawings of rainbows.[4]

The campaign was supported by the Conservative Party-controlled British government, which displayed children's "Thank You NHS" signs in the windows of 10 Downing Street.[5] Organizations also supporting the campaign included the British Labour Party[6] and Hull City Council.[7] Other sponsors included sports teams such as Hibernian F.C. and the Premier League.[8][9]

Some media outlets released poster artwork for people to print and display.[10]

Gallery

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thank You NHS.

References

  1. ^ "In Pictures: Public finds creative ways to say thank you to frontline workers". www.expressandstar.com. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  2. ^ Holmes, David (9 April 2020). "Chester residents show their love for NHS with a sign (or two) by city hospital". CheshireLive. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  3. ^ Campbell-Johnston, Rachel. "What historians will use to document lockdown, from PPE bunting to homemade signs". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  4. ^ "30 pictures of your children's drawings to thank NHS workers". grimsbytelegraph. 4 April 2020. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Boris Johnson puts Derbyshire mum's colouring poster in his front window". derbytelegraph. 20 April 2020. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  6. ^ "On the 72nd birthday of the NHS we say thank you". action.labour.org.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  7. ^ "City's thank you message to NHS staff". Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Hibernian: New home shirt to bear 'Thank you NHS' logo". BBC Sport. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Clubs say thank you on NHS anniversary". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  10. ^ Masters, Dave (1 April 2020). "Print this NHS Heroes poster and put it in your window to show your support". mirror. Retrieved 31 July 2020.


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