TEA parties for all NHS staff across hospitals and community services in Oldham, Bury, Rochdale and Salford are coming in July.

The NHS Big Tea event on July 5 aims to celebrate the NHS’s 73rd birthday and all of its staff.

NorthCare Charity, the NHS charity that supports The Royal Oldham Hospital, is encouraging NHS staff to take a break on the day and enjoy some well-deserved treats.

The charity is also calling on Oldham residents to hold their own tea parties to show their support of the NHS, with packs full of activities and fundraising tools available to register for on the North Care charity website.

Work places are also being invited to hold tea parties in staff canteens and challenge colleagues to bake some treats or donate a percentage of sales from a certain product or service to the NHS charity.

Schools can also take part in celebrating the NHS’s birthday by either fund raising or raising awareness.

Across Bury, Oldham Rochdale and Salford schools have already signed up for the NHS Big Tea event, with some holding tea parties and other having a dress-down day.

NHS charities nationally will be raising a cuppa at 3pm to mark the occasion.

Helen Barrow, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) lead nurse at The Royal Oldham Hospital, said: “The past year has been the toughest and most challenging in my 36-year career, but it means so much to know the local community is behind us.”

Photos and videos of tea parties can be shared on social media using the hashtag #NHSBigTea and tagging @ncarecharity.