The Queen awards George Cross to NHS staff for pandemic response

Queen Elizabeth II has awarded the NHS with a George Cross to commemorate the service’s 73-year-history, as well as its steadfast response to the coronavirus pandemic that hit the UK early last year, stating that the organisation had the thanks of a ‘grateful nation.’

The award was accompanied by a letter hand-written by the Queen, highlighting the ‘courage, compassion and dedication’ shown by NHS staff who braved the frontlines of the pandemic.

The letter read: ’It is with great pleasure, on behalf of a grateful nation, that I award the George Cross to the National Health Services of the United Kingdom. This award recognises all NHS staff, past and present, across all disciplines and all four nations.’

Over more than seven decades, and especially in recent times, you have supported the people of our country with courage, compassion and dedication, demonstrating the highest standards of public service. You have our enduring thanks and heartfelt appreciation.

The NHS showed ‘courage and dedication’ during the pandemic

The official citation for the cross claims it was awarded to the NHS for its ‘collective courage and dedication’ shown while fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, labelling it as the 'the greatest public health emergency’ in NHS history.

Many frontline staff risked their lives and their livelihoods during the pandemic, regularly exposing themselves to both COVID and gruelling hours, leaving them mentally and physically drained. Together NHS staff ultimately helped to administer 79 million COVID jabs and treated over 400,000 severely ill patients, numbers which are still increasing every day.

Outgoing NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens claims the award recognises the ‘skill and compassion’ of all NHS staff during the ‘worst pandemic in a century and the greatest challenge this country has faced since the Second World War.’

Out of those dark times have come the best of what it means to be a carer and a health professional.

He continued: ‘In the face of adversity we have seen extraordinary teamwork, not just across the NHS but involving hundreds of thousands of volunteers, millions of carers, key workers and the British public who have played an indispensable role in helping the health service to look after many hundreds of thousands of seriously ill patients with coronavirus.’

Health Secretary Sajid Javid also congratulated members of the service:

Those working in the NHS have done an incredible job caring for so many during this awful pandemic. The George Cross is the highest possible honour a civilian can achieve and I want to pay tribute to everyone across the NHS for their heroism and sacrifice.

What is the George Cross?

Alongside the Victoria Cross, the Geroge Cross ranks as one of the highest commendations for gallantry in the UK. King George VI initially instituted the award in 1940 for the intention of recognising ‘acts of the greatest heroism or of the most courage in circumstances of extreme danger.’

This is just the third time in history the award was nominated to an entity or collective organisation instead of a single person, with Malta and the Royal Ulster Constabulary being the other two recipients.

The George Cross was recently awarded in 2017 to retired British Army Officer and Royal Marine Dominic Troulan for his courageous acts during the 2013 Westgate shopping mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya.