Local patient pays tribute to nurse in NHS birthday message

Publish date: 9 July 2025

Sara Turle, a lung cancer patient from Kent, marked the NHS' 77th anniversary last week by appearing in a video with the prime minister to thank her cancer clinical nurse, Sharon.

Sara, who is living with incurable lung cancer, described Sharon, a cancer clinical nurse (CNS) at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, as “the font of all knowledge” and “a joy in the hardest of times”.

The video sees patients reunited with the hard-working NHS carers that looked after them and their loved ones, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer who thanked the nurse who cared for his brother.

Sara, who is also a patient partner of the Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance's Working Together Group, which helps develop local cancer services, said: “To have the opportunity to visit Downing Street was amazing but to thank my wonderful lung cancer CNS Sharon Gill and highlight the incredible work of her and her colleagues, was beyond precious.

“I am so grateful she is walking my incurable cancer experience with me. It was a day full of high emotion and supreme joy. To be included in the birthday message was the icing on the cake!”

Sara was among several patients and NHS workers invited to Downing Street for a special reception to celebrate the work of the public sector.

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Sara Turle (left) and Sharon Gill (right) standing outside of 10 Downing Street.

Watch NHS 77th birthday film

Watch Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s message to the NHS on its 77th birthday on YouTube.

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