NHS staff team up with Paul McCartney for Band Aid-style charity single to mark NHS's 70th birthday

A charity single in the vein of Band Aid to mark the 70th birthday of the NHS has been announced. 

A host of the biggest names in music along with NHS staff, including former Official Christmas Number 1 victors The Lewisham and Greenwhich NHS Choir, will release a cover of Beatles classic With A Little Help From My Friends on July 6.

Sir Paul McCartney leant his support to the project after receiving a heartfelt letter from the NHS staff who are leading the campaign, while BRIT Award-winning, Grammy-nominated Jon Cohen and British-based Kat Aylwin are producing the track. 

Joe Blunden, an NHS communications professional who conceived the project, said: “I see how hard NHS staff work every day, and wanted to create something that would show them all just how appreciated they are. Having the support of Sir Paul McCartney is absolutely incredible, and we will be recruiting artists from across the last seven decades to help us celebrate everything that is great about our health system.”

Children’s doctor Katie Rogerson, is also leading the charge on the release, hinted at an array of high-profile contributors: “We don’t want to give too much away until nearer the release of the song on July 6, but we have a host of huge names who are itching to get into the recording studio. We will also be involving staff, volunteers and patients from across the UK, so this really will be a song for everyone.”

Katie along with NHS Choir leader and children’s community physiotherapist, Caroline Smith, were instrumental in landing the Official Christmas Number 1 in 2015 with A Bridge Over You, narrowly beating Justin Bieber after he tweeted his support to the cause. 

“It is so exciting to be working on a project that celebrates the NHS," Caroline said. "We can’t wait to record with other NHS Trust choirs, and it is amazing so many high profile musicians want to get involved.”

All proceeds from the single will go to NHS Charities Together, a group of more than 100 NHS charities that have come together to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the NHS and raise awareness of the work that NHS charities do to support the NHS. More information can be found on their Facebook page.

Watch the NHS Choir meet Justin Bieber to celebrate their Official Singles Chart Number 1s below: