This Sunday 5 July marks 72 years since the NHS was first established. In what is being called the ‘most challenging year’ of its history, leaders are calling for people to use the birthday as an opportunity to recognise, reflect, and remember.

At 5pm on Sunday, the public are encouraged to come together to applaud frontline workers as part of the NHS’ #ThankYouTogether campaign.

To celebrate, renowned photographer Rankin has taken portraits of 12 NHS staff members who have played a critical role in managing the UK’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The portraits are of staff in a variety of NHS roles, including an ICU consultant, a COVID-19 critical care nurse, a midwife, a psychiatrist, a hospital porter, a COVID-19 ward cleaner, a paramedic, a GP, a pharmacist, a district nurse, a 111 call centre worker, and a Chief Information Officer.

As part of the project, Rankin includes a story from each of the 12 individuals, detailing their experience of working on the frontline during the pandemic.

View Rankin’s project and find out more about the NHS’ birthday.