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Russell Brand has paid tribute to the NHS on their 70th anniversary for saving his mother's life following a near-fatal car crash in April.

The comedian, 43, praised the organisation in a poignant blog post titled 'NHS saved my mum - Is it the spirit of our country?', as well as visiting the Royal London hospital to personally thank the staff who treated his mother Barbara, 72.

Lauding the NHS for the love and care they had shown his mother during her treatment and recovery, he wrote: 'The NHS, it does so much and yet it means much more. 

Thank you: Russell Brand has paid tribute to the NHS on their 70th anniversary for saving his mother's life following a near-fatal car crash in April

Recovery:The comedian, 43, praised the organisation in a poignant blog post titled 'NHS saved my mum - Is it the spirit of our country?', as well as visiting the Royal London hospital to personally thank the staff who treated his mother Barbara, 72

'The NHS has symbolic value, it is this country’s soul. But it is of course more than a symbol, it is carnal as well as divine. 

'In Resuc with my Mum in The Royal London, a 3 star Michelin, academy of excellence the corporeal is all too real and life and death meet here upon the immaculate and bloodless floor.'

Opening up about the terrifying aftermath of his mother's crash, he continued:  'Mr Martin Griffiths arrives at the foot of her gurney, her head is lightly bound to blocks and around her all are in scrubs except for the police and they cluster in interdepartmental huddles. 

'Forms are grimly signed. My supine and broken Mum remains charming with what little breath she has. The medical staff so ceremoniously astute that in the midsts of death we are in life and Mr Martin Griffith is wearing a suit that reassures. 

Staying strong: Lauding the NHS for the love and care they had shown his mother during her treatment and recovery, he wrote: 'The NHS, it does so much and yet it means much more (pictured in 2012)

Praising the staff for their calm and efficient manner, he spoke of the moment he was informed his mother needed urgent surgery on her perforated bowel followed by an operation on her spine. 

He wrote: 'Away she goes, my dear old Mum into limitless corridors and wards, into the hands of the devotees of this sky high principle of dedication, togetherness and salvation.

Revealing the NHS' anniversary fell on his beloved mother's 72nd birthday, he added: 'her life has been held up by the institution that shares her birthday and her spirit, her will to live, her inner healing power. 

'These two Mothers stand side by side in my mind. In my mind this spirit is something they share, this unseen and unseeable thing is somehow unified. 

Heroes: The actor also shared photos to his 565,000 Instagram followers, of his return to the hospital to thank the medical professionals who had saved his mother

Praise: The star looked proud as he posed up with some commemorative bunting in the hospital

Grateful: The actor looked proud as he personally thanked the staff who treated his mother

'No one who has spoken to a trauma surgeon or any member of their team could for a moment doubt the fundamental significance of science, material, rational science, experience, competence. 

'We are dealing with world class experts here who meticulously understand biomechanics. But there is an art too, there is intuition, an ‘inner tuition’.  

'The NHS is the very best of us, it is a living, breathing, healing mother goddess born of war and sacrifice sustained by love and dedication.    

The actor also shared photos to his 565,000 Instagram followers, of his return to the hospital to thank the medical professionals who had saved his mother.  

He wrote: 'The amazing Mr. Uff who did one of the two life saving operations on my Mum. Happy Birthday #NHS and Happy Birthday Mum. #July5th #NHS70.'      

Devoted: Russell has previously praised the NHS for saving his mother's life 'six times'

Thank you: Russell hugged another staff member as he showed his support for the hospital

Smile: The comedian happily chatted with two staff members at the stellar hospital

Thankful: Russell looked emotional as he hugged another employee at the hospital 

In a previous blog on his website the star heaped praise on the love and care the NHS showed to his mother, while elaborating on the horror injuries his mother suffered.        

He wrote: 'A head on collision at 100 miles per hour, both cars totalled, strewn across a lane. Passers by don’t pass by, they stop and help. They haul the ‘screaming and bloodied’ woman from the back of the car.       

'When I see her she is already medicated and understandably in shock. ‘I wish that hadn’t happened’ she says. Her chemotherapy completed just three weeks before.'  

'The scans come back, each bleaker than the last; broken neck, internal bleeding, broken back, sternum, ribs… "It’s very serious" says Darren, head nurse before she is rushed to the Royal London Whitechapel, my Uncle and I follow in an unmarked blue light, the policeman Steve dutiful and beautiful. '

Adding that his mother has beaten cancer six times, Russell said he had repeatedly thanked the staff at the Royal London hospital, who modestly accepted his praise.

Happy: Russell couldn't keep the smile off his face as he embraced staff members

Selfie: The star happily smiled as he posed for a group selfie at the hospital

Playful: The star posed up with a dedicated staff member in the hospital 

Shocking: Barbara, was heading to her son's house in his chauffeur-driven limo when it collided with another car in Essex - leaving her with 'life-threatening injuries' (above in 2011)

The star said his mother had had to undergo three lifesaving operations and said: 'I see why they call it ‘Intensive Care’, that’s exactly what it is in there, intensive care, strong and constant love from a roster of two hundred nurses, each one dedicated, kind, focussed and unfussy. 

'A variety of backgrounds but as they fulfil their role at the end of my Mum’s bed, applying drains to her injured lungs, monitoring her bruised heart, feeding her, bathing her, the difference between care and love is difficult to see.   

'Is the invisible force that keeps my Mum, not just alive but positive and loving distinct in any meaningful way from the love and devotion of these beautiful people?  

Last month Russell revealed his mother was making a 'remarkable recovery' following her 'terrible' head-on car crash last month.

Barbara was heading to her son's house in his chauffeur-driven limousine when it collided with another vehicle in Essex - leaving her with 'life-threatening injuries', including a broken back and broken neck. 

Verbal statement: In April, the comedian released a statement to inform fans that he would be cancelling the remainder of the Russell Brand: Rebirth tour due to the crash

At the end of last month, the comedian released a statement to inform fans that he would be cancelling the remainder of the Russell Brand: Rebirth tour, due to his mother's accident. 

In an Instagram video, Russell said: 'My mum's been in a really serious road accident and has sustained what are being called 'polytraumatic injuries', that means numerous, life threatening injuries.'

He confirmed that the nine remaining May 2018 dates for the Rebirth tour were now cancelled and tickets would be refunded or 'possibly rescheduled'.

'I can't imagine performing at the moment,' he continued. 'I feel too sad and too connected to this. I apologise but obviously it's circumstances beyond my control.' 

In a second video, Russell said that his mum was in a 'vulnerable' position, having finished multiple bouts of cancer treatment only weeks before. 

Collison: The car was being driven by a chauffeur near Brentwood, Essex, when a Vauxhall Astra crossed onto the wrong side of the road and collided with the limo

Run for it: The driver of the Astra is believed to have escaped from the scene in a white Volkswagen Golf - but has since been arrested

'I'm sad for my mum,' he said. 'She's vulnerable. She only finished chemotherapy a month ago so for her to be in this situation it's really difficult.'

Russell praised the NHS for their care, and insisted that he considered Taz, the chauffeur of his car, to be a 'friend'.

He continued: 'The man who was driving was a friend of mine. What I suppose I would like to say is how I am reminded, as I have been many times across my life is the importance and significance of the NHS who have already saved her life on six occasions, my mum has had cancer six times.' 

Barbara, who has a very close relationship with Russell, has previously beaten uterus cancer when the comedian was just eight, and breast cancer a year later. 

 'Difficult': Russell expressed his regret at cancelling the remainder of the Rebirth tour, but said his family must come first

Barbara had been travelling to the star's home to babysit his 18-month-old daughter Mabel in his chauffeur-driven Audi A8 when the limo was struck by a car travelling on the wrong side of the road.   

The star's Audi A8 was badly damaged in the collision, which closed the road for several hours. 

Barbara was taken bleeding from the back of the car and put into an ambulance. 

Pictures from the scene show the extent of the damage, with debris from the car's being scattered across the road. 

The comedian similarly cancelled a sold-out live show in 2014, after his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time. 

Russell has long been a supporter of cancer awareness campaigns due to his family's history with the disease.

Promoting the CoppaFeel! campaign in 2010, Russell appeared in a video with his mother encouraging women to check their breasts regularly for lumps.