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Blue Light Card NHS and Emergency Services Discounts.

As a teacher in the UK, I have a deep appreciation for the hard work done by those in the public sector, including the NHS and emergency services. These individuals often work long hours for relatively low pay and it’s always great to see any discount or offer schemes that help them out. One such scheme is the blue light card. This card costs £4.99 for 2 years and provides access to a range of discounts, gift cards, and services at a discounted price.

If you’re wondering who can apply for and receive a blue light card, the answer is quite broad. The following groups are eligible:

  • 4×4 Response
  • Ambulance Service
  • Blood Bikes
  • Border Force
  • British Army
  • Cave Rescue
  • Community First Responders
  • Fire Service
  • Highways England Traffic Officer
  • HM Armed Forces Veterans
  • H.M Coastguard
  • HM Prison Service
  • Immigration Enforcement
  • Lowland Search and Rescue
  • MoD Fire Service
  • MoD Police
  • Mountain Rescue
  • NHS
  • Police
  • Red Cross
  • Reserve Armed Forces
  • RNLI
  • Royal Air Force
  • Royal Marines
  • Royal Navy
  • Search and Rescue
  • Second Line Responders
  • Social Care Workers
  • St Andrews Ambulance
  • St John Ambulance
  • UK Visas and Immigration

Retired NHS and emergency service staff may also have access to this service. If you’re retired, you’ll need to provide ID appropriate to your previous role. Visit the official Blue Light Card website to find out more.

Once you have a blue light card, using it to access discounts and offers is straightforward. You can redeem Blue Light Card discounts online or by presenting your card in-store. Discounts range from money-off offers to two-for-one deals at restaurants in the UK, representing up to 50% off. It’s important to note that you’ll need to work out if the discount is offered on any given retailer represents good value, as some deals may be better if you approach the company directly and look for cashback offers that stack via the big UK cashback sites or even sites like boom25 and MyMoneyPocket.

One of the best things about the Blue Light Card is the cinema discounts available to NHS and emergency services staff. You can get significant discounts on cinema tickets in the UK at Odeon, Vue, and Cineworld. Simply purchase a voucher which will then be sent to you by email. This cinema discount voucher can be exchanged for tickets via most cinemas’ online booking pages. The discount codes can usually be used on all films apart from previews and premieres.

It’s worth noting that the list of Blue Light Card discounts is extensive, and it’s always a good idea to check the Blue Light Card discount list before making a purchase. You can access these discounts via the Blue Light Card app, which is available for both iOS and Android operating systems. The app has built-in push notifications to let you know when you’re near Blue Light Card offers in your area. If the app isn’t working as well as you’d like, you can always search for “Blue Light Card discounts near me” on Google to find more offers.

The Blue Light Card is an excellent way for NHS and emergency services staff to access discounts on a range of goods and services. There are many discounts available, so be sure to check the Blue Light Card discount list and use the app to find deals near you. If you work for the NHS or in the UK public service sector, please let us know of any additional discounts you think others should know about. In the meantime, check out the sections below to see what’s on offer for Blue Light Card holders.

blue light card for nhs staff

Where can I use my blue light card and get discounts?

Well, let’s just say that with a blue light card, the world is your oyster! There are tons of big-name brands that offer discounts to blue light cardholders.

First up, let’s talk about food. Who doesn’t love a good meal out? With your blue light card, you can get discounts at all the major high-street restaurants, including Pizza Express, Prezzo, and Zizzi. And if you’re more of a fast-food kinda person, don’t worry – KFC, Subway, and Domino’s are all on board too.

If you’re in the mood for a bit of retail therapy, you’re in luck. The blue light card gives you access to discounts at some of the biggest names on the high street. You can save on fashion and accessories at ASOS, New Look, and Schuh, or nab a bargain on homeware at B&Q and Homebase.

For those who like to keep active, there are plenty of fitness and leisure discounts available too. Gym memberships at PureGym, The Gym Group, and Nuffield Health are all discounted for blue light cardholders. You can also save on outdoor gear at Mountain Warehouse and Cotswold Outdoor, or get discounted tickets for theme parks like Alton Towers and Thorpe Park.

And if all that sounds too active for you, there are plenty of other ways to save. You can get discounts on your mobile phone bill with EE and Vodafone, or on your next holiday with Expedia and TUI. And if you need to update your tech, both Apple and Samsung offer discounts to blue light cardholders.

So, there you have it – just a small selection of the brands that offer discounts with your blue light card. With so many options available, you’re sure to find something that takes your fancy.

How to save on eating out with the family using your Blue Light Card

As a Blue Light Card holder, not only can you enjoy discounts on clothing, travel, and entertainment, but you can also save big on dining out with your family or friends. Whether you’re a busy parent trying to make ends meet, or an over-worked public service worker looking for a way to unwind, the Blue Light Card can help you save money on meals out.

Many popular restaurant chains like Beefeater, Bella Italia, Bill’s, and Frankie & Benny’s offer 20-25% discounts on food to Blue Light Card holders. That means you can enjoy a delicious meal with your family without breaking the bank. And if you’re a pizza lover, you can get up to 50% off your order at Domino’s Pizza.

But it’s not just sit-down restaurants that offer discounts to Blue Light Card holders. Fast food chains like KFC and McDonald’s also offer discounts of up to 20% on their app orders. Plus, you can save 10% on your orders at Starbucks and Tim Hortons, and get 20% off food at Yo! Sushi on weekdays and Sundays.

If you’re on a road trip, you can save 20% on your food orders at Welcome Break locations, including Burger King, KFC, Pizza Express, Subway, and Starbucks. And if you’re looking for a hearty Sunday roast, you can get 20% off your food bill at Toby Carvery until September 29th.

So, if you’re a Blue Light Card holder and you’re looking for ways to save money on eating out with your family or friends, be sure to check out these discounts. It’s a great way to enjoy a meal together without worrying about the cost

Can I get Blue Light Card cinema discounts?

Users of the card for the NHS and emergency services can get huge discounts on cinema tickets in the UK. Currently, this works at Odeon, Vue and Cineworld. In general, you will need to purchase a voucher which will then be sent to you by email. This cinema discount voucher can be exchanged for tickets via most cinemas’ online booking pages. The discount codes can usually be used on all films apart from previews and premieres.

It changes every year but there are also service days for cardholders. These are essentially free events where major UK theme parks are closed to the public and access is provided to various services and service staff around the UK.

Using the Blue Light card App to find discounts near you

This app is available for both iOS and Android operating systems. It has a built-in push notification for letting you know when you’re near blue light card offers in your area. It can occasionally be a little bit buggy so often booting up good old Google and typing in “blue light Card discounts near me” will show more via the search results.

There are plenty of other discount schemes are available for NHS staff, students, teachers and other public services. However, I’ll be writing about those separately. In the meantime, if you work for the NHS or in the UK public service sector please let me know of any additional discounts that you think other people should know about.

12 Comments

  1. Marie Pemberton says:

    How do I continue to use my Blue Light card once I have retired from NHS?

    1. I believe you can continue to use this, or start when retired anyway. Their site states:

      You will be eligible for our service if you are retired from one of the below:

      Armed Forces Veterans – ID required: Armed forces pension, Certificate of Service or Certificate of Discharge. If you do not have any of these documents, you can contact Veterans UK on 0808 1914 2 18 and they will be able to assist.
      Retired Police Officers – ID Required: Police pension or NARPO card
      Retired Firefighters – ID required: Firefighters pension
      Retired NHS – ID required: P60 Certificate showing NHS pension

      1. Iris Leggett says:

        I am a retired Nhs worker with a a pension ,cab I get a blue light card

        1. Hi, Yes. According to the BLC website FAQ you’ll need to show the following “ID required: P60 Certificate showing NHS pension”

          1. Norma Arch says:

            What do I need to send you to prove I am retired nhs worker membe XXXXXX paye ref XXXXXX

          2. Hi Norma. You need to contact BLC directly via https://www.bluelightcard.co.uk/contactblc.php On Savvy Dad were have merely produced an article about the perks or the Blue Light Card and how to access them. We have removed the details you submitted. Please make sure you only send them to the Blue Light Card team.

      2. Can national service army veterans get a card?

        1. Hi, You’ll need to contact the Blue Light team directly to find out the specifics for your case, but on their website it sates: “The Blue Light Discount Card is a discount service for the emergency services, NHS, social care sector and Armed Forces (including veterans)”

          1. Hi,
            Is it possible to renew my BLC even after I resign from NHS?

          2. Thanks for your question, as far as we can tell you can renew your card within 3 months of leaving the position. After this 3 months has passed we do not believe you’ll be able to renew unless you are a retiree.

            We would suggest you contact blue light card directly if you’re unsure.

  2. I am retired from the NHS, and have a blue light card. I booked a cruise with TUI using my blue light card, but they have took my discount back off me as I didn’t have a valid Nhs email address? How do retirees get this discount if their NHS email address in no longer valid?

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