People are thanking the NHS for their work during the pandemic ahead of the organisation’s birthday

Moving on from weekly claps on our doorstep, people are now turning to Twitter to express their gratitude for the incredible work NHS staff have done and continue to do during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Thank You Day, which takes place today, comes ahead of the NHS’ 73rd birthday tomorrow, with the health service set up on 5 July 1948.

It also follows several landmarks across England being lit up to mark the anniversary on Saturday.

“After 18 long months, the end of lockdown is finally in sight … Before normal life takes over again, we want to pause and say thank you to everyone who helped.

“From neighbours who kept the noise down or dropped off the shopping … delivery drivers and supermarket security guards who kept us fed, local shopkeepers who stayed open, care workers, doctors, nurses, volunteers, and everyone who obeyed the rules – we couldn’t have done it without each other.

“[The NHS’ birthday is] a perfect moment for the country’s biggest ever thank you party. A chance to get together in the sunshine (we hope), with our neighbours, communities and families, to mark what has happened, celebrate the spirit that got us through and say thank you,” a webpage on the official Thank You Day website reads.

What started as an idea proposed by just 13 people has now become a national celebration, with #ThankYouDay being the top trend on Twitter at the time of writing and many people showing their appreciation for the NHS, key workers and volunteers:

Others took the opportunity to take aim at the Government, and point out that NHS workers are still in need of a pay rise following their heroic work during the crisis:

Hats off to them all.