The NHS is gearing up to celebrate its 72nd birthday, and the north Cumbria trust is asking the county to mark the occasion by making a pledge to support one's own health and wellbeing.

The NHS, which was launched on July 5 1948, will this coming Sunday be 72 years old. To mark the day, the NHS is asking the public to make a pledge to do something to better take care of one's own health.

This could be something as straightforward as pledging to walk a few more steps each day, or something more wide-ranging like committing to a change of diet.

Anna Stabler, chief nurse at the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust said: “When this year started no one knew what was going to lie ahead and here we are, seven months into 2020 working in ways we never imagined.

“Our NHS and all of our brilliant NHS staff are truly incredible and so to mark the 72nd birthday of the NHS we would love to encourage people to make pledges to take care of their health.

"This can be anything, from pledging to walk a few extra steps each day, making time for yourself, improving your diet or helping others.

“Your health pledge isn’t just about looking after your own health, it’s also about supporting your local NHS services. So give yourself and your NHS a helping hand by making a personal health pledge.”

The trust is asking the public to share their pledges and thank you messages across social media this week making sure to tag @NCICNHS on Twitter and Facebook.

They will then be complied together and shared on Sunday July 5.