NHS choir and friends in top slot bid

BY TOBY PORTER

toby@slpmedia.co.uk

A choir of doctors, nurses and hospital staff which recorded the Christmas No1 in 2015 in a wave of pro-NHS campaigning is to try to match its success.

The Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust choir, first seen on Gareth Malone’s BBC2 show Sing While You Work, is aiming for a second success with a version of The Beatles’ With A Little Help From My Friends.

The choir reached top spot with A Bridge Over You, and is hoping to repeat this success with the latest single, which features some special celebrity guests as well as NHS choirs from around the country.

The charity single will be released under the name NHS Voices on July 6 to mark the 70th birthday of the NHS.

The project has already attracted a wide range of high profile supporters, including Sir Paul McCartney.

The choir members include doctors, physiotherapists, midwives, nurses and theatre staff. Choir leader and children’s community physiotherapist, Caroline Smith, said: “It is so exciting to be working on a project that celebrates the NHS. We can’t wait to record with other NHS Trust choirs, and it is amazing so many well-known 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.

Their previous song beat Justin Bieber to the top slot – thanks to the pop star’s support. His song Love Yourself was the favourite for the accolade, but he tweeted his support for the choir’s song: “For one week it’s ok not be #1. Let’s do the right thing & help them win. It’s Christmas.”

That helped it sell 127,000 copies.

Chidi Ejimofo, a consultant in emergency medicine who sang the male solo told the South London Press: “It is about so much more than the front line doctors and nurses. This song celebrates the work of all the unsung heroes in the NHS, whose amazing work is often taken for granted.”