ITV's NHS Day - our heroes in the East

ITV is dedicating today to all the NHS heroes on the front line.

Across our network, programmes including GMB, This Morning and ITV News Anglia will be highlighting all of the work done by NHS staff in the UK.

In the East, according to the latest NHS figures released for December 2019 almost 250,000 people work for the health service - that's four per cent of the population of the East.

This includes 25,000 doctors, 64,000 nurses and health visitors 79,000 clinical support staff and 40,000 NHS infrastructure support staff.

As the coronavirus crisis continues, healthcare workers in hospitals, in communities, in homes and in surgeries across the region have had to change the way they're working.

It's often meant more pressure, longer hours and harder days as they strive to keep us safe when we need them the most.

Across the day today on ITV News Anglia we'll be telling the stories of staff in hospitals, hospices and in community healthcare. We'll be reflecting the vast nature of the NHS "front line" which takes in everything from doctors and nurses, to porters, pharmacists, carers and carpenters.

As the nation rallies behind our NHS staff, taking to their doorsteps every Thursday at 8pm, we'll also be hearing from you, with your thank you videos.

If you still want to submit one - you can here.

  • Here's a picture gallery of thank-you messages from across the region

Thank you NHS sign in Wells, Norfolk Credit: Elisa Bray
10-year old Sophia and Mum Elaine created a window display to say thank-you to the key-workers Credit: Russell Rickett
A thank-you sign as you enter the village of Shipdham in Norfolk Credit: Mark Wardle
Robyn wants to say thank-you to Darren Harrison who is working round-the-clock as a St John Ambulance volunteer at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge Credit: Robyn Clarke
Geraldine Neale from Letchworth crocheted this bear as a tribute to the NHS Credit: Nobel Neale
This tribute took two and a half hours to draw and is dedicated to all staff at Bedford hospital Credit: Kate and Ella Larkworthy
Flux Media Productions are projecting an animation onto the side of a house in Moulton, Northamptonshire every Thursday. Credit: Nathan Clarke