A Southampton doctor who helped evacuate Ukrainian children suffering from cancer has shared his hopes for the NHS as it celebrates its 75th anniversary.

Dr Michael Griksaitis, of University Hospital Southampton, is speaking at a service at Westminster Abbey today marking the special milestone.

The Prime Minister and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will also be in attendance.

The paediatric critical care doctor believes the healthcare system will remain – but only if those within it are cared for.

Daily Echo: Dr Michael Griksaitis (left) with David Beckham Dr Michael Griksaitis (left) with David Beckham (Image: University Hospital Southampton)

Discussing the future of the NHS, Dr Griksaitis said: "The NHS is the most remarkable institution, and it saves lives every single day.

"People within it are not just the classic doctors or nurses – there’s a whole team.

"There needs to be recognition that to keep the NHS working, people need to be supported and cared for within it.

"We all want it to continue and to have free care at the point of need. The way that happens is to care for staff, respect them, and retain them.

"If you do that, I think the NHS will be here for another 75 years to care for all of us.

"People need to be looked after, and I think that’s where all the focus needs to be in the NHS."

Alongside Dr Martin English, Dr Griksaitis led a team who brought 21 Ukrainian children with cancer over to the UK from Poland in March 2022, following the Russian invasion.

His efforts are the reason he has been invited to give a speech at Westminster.

Dr Griksaitis said: “When I was asked to give this NHS testimonial, it was an honour and a real privilege, and to do it from children’s services.

“This came about because I was involved with Southampton Children’s Hospital helping with the evacuation of children from Ukraine to the UK for cancer treatment.

“That process was multi-agency, and it just shows what the NHS can do when everybody comes together.

“I will be reflecting on how the NHS and people in the NHS can work together to save lives. It’s more than an institution – it’s the people who make up that institution.

“It’s people who deliver the critical care, it’s people who give the bad news, it’s people who do the operations.

“It’s made up of people, and that’s how I’m going to be reflecting on.”

And for some patients, it’s the people in the NHS who are at the heart of it all.

Cancer survivor Sarah Read has praised those who looked after her while she was in hospital.

The 50-year-old from Eastleigh was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma – a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, a network of vessels and glands found throughout the body – in December.

She said: “I had my final PET scan the day after my 50th birthday. My consultant then said they’d phone me as soon as they got my results.

“Normally people have to wait maybe two or three weeks after their final result, but my consultant was so fantastic because he phoned me less than 24 hours later and said, ‘your cancer is in full remission, there is no cancer left in your body’.”

Sarah was quick to praise the hard work of NHS staff, saying: “They were amazing, absolutely amazing.

“The nurses know exactly how to treat you – they treat you like family.

“They are joyful and bubbly and know exactly how to treat you when you’re at your most vulnerable.

“I don’t understand anyone who talks down the NHS because I can only sing their praises.”

Five members of staff from South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) have been invited to the celebratory service at Westminster Abbey.

Among those are Julie Bailey, paramedic and clinical team educator based at Nursling, and Kathy Oakshott, emergency despatcher based at the clinical co-ordination centre in Otterbourne.

Julie said: “I have seen huge changes within the ambulance service and NHS in my time and it feels very special to be invited to the 75th birthday celebrations in Westminster Abbey.

“It's a day I'm really looking forward to.”