Happy Birthday NHS - Rochdale Infirmary youngsters get creative with cards

Youngsters at Rochdale Infirmary will be marking the 60th anniversary of the NHS with some creative cards.

The special ‘Birthday Cards’ are being designed by children at Bury’s Fairfield General Hospital, North Manchester General Hospital, The Royal Oldham Hospital and Rochdale Infirmary. The art sessions will take place as part of the national Playday event, which is being held on Wednesday 6 August.

Children staying at Rochdale Infirmary, Fairfield and The Royal Oldham on 6 August will be invited to join in, along with children who attend three on-site hospital nurseries – Tall Trees at North Manchester, Teddies at Oldham and Creche-N-Co at Fairfield.

Fin McNicol, head of communications at Pennine Acute Trust, which runs the hospitals, said: “As 2008 is the 60th anniversary of the NHS this was a natural theme for Playday. Every youngster likes birthday parties, so we’re sure that they’ll come up with lots of great designs to help the NHS mark its big party.

“Every child involved will receive a special certificate, and there will be prizes for the best cards. We’ll also include the cards in displays later in the year as part of the work which the hospitals are doing to mark the anniversary.”

Playday is a national event which promotes children’s play each year. Thousands of children, young people and communities will get out and play at hundreds of locally-organised events across the UK.