His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, attended a service to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the National Health Service on Tuesday 2nd July 2008.

The service began with a sound recording of a speech made in July 1949 by the founder of the NHS, the Rt Hon Aneurin Bevan MP, then Minister of Health, who referred to a great start for the NHS, despite the problems being encountered.

The service was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, who said in his bidding: ‘Sixty years after that great start of the National Health Service for the United Kingdom, we are as conscious as the Service’s founder of the overwhelming volume of need, and as aware of the friction, controversy and doubt, as well as of the great hopes still vested in the National Health Service.’

The address was given by the Bishop of Gloucester, the Right Rev Michael Perham, who is chairman of the Hospital Chaplaincies Council.

Lessons were read by an NHS patient, Ashley Brooks (Ecclestiasticus 38: 1-14), and by Louisa Baxter, Gastroenterology Registrar, Barts and the London NHS Trust (Mark 2: 1–12). The service included four reflections on the NHS from: the Prime Minister; David Nicholson, NHS Chief Executive; Elizabeth Farrelly, appointed a governor of the Royal London Hospital in 1948 at the age of 21; and Edward Mayne, an NHS patient who has recovered from major oral surgery.

The Reverend Graeme Napier, Minor Canon of Westminster, led prayers and thanksgivings which were offered by: the Rt Rev Thomas Williams, Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool, the Catholic Bishop for Healthcare representing the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster; the Reverend Debbi Hodge, Free Churches Secretary for Healthcare; the Reverend Professor Huw Jones, Vice-chair of the Hospital Chaplaincies Council; the Reverend Richard Lowndes, Senior Chaplain of the Southampton University Hospitals Trust; the Reverend Edward Lewis, chief officer of the Multi-faith Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy.

The service was sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey conducted by the Organist and Master of the Choristers James O’Donnell. The organ was played by the Sub Organist Robert Quinney. The Assistant Organist James McVinnie played before the service.

Order of Service (PDF)