Happy birthday NHS!

5 July 2023 marks 75 years of the National Health Service. Treating over a million people a day in England, the NHS touches all of our lives. When it was founded in 1948, the NHS was the first universal health system to be available to all, free at the point of delivery.

Over the past 75 years, the outlook for people with lymphoma has changed dramatically. Back in 1948, when the NHS was established, radiotherapy was the only treatment available for someone diagnosed with lymphoma. Today there are a wide range of treatment options available, tailored for each individual.

Lymphoma Action (formerly the Lymphoma Association) was set up in 1986 by patients who wanted to support each other and learn more about their disease. From that premise, Lymphoma Action opened a helpline and started writing information designed for patients. This remains at the heart of the charity. 

Our mission is to make sure no one faces lymphoma alone. We provide support and information for people affected by lymphoma – through our website, publications, Helpline services, online support meetings, Buddy service, videos and more.

We are indebted to staff within the NHS for supporting the work we do for people affected by lymphoma. Our Medical Advisory Panel guide our work and review our information, ensuring it remains evidence-based, accurate and useful.

We also work closely with NHS healthcare professionals to develop and deliver our specialist education and training programme that supports clinicians and nurses to keep up to date with the latest developments in lymphoma treatment and care.