The UK government announced on Monday that Queen Elizabeth will award the country’s highest civilian honour on the UK’s state-run National Health Service (NHS) in acknowledgment of health workers’ efforts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The award of the George Cross, the civilian equivalent of the Victoria Cross for remarkable military heroism in the United Kingdom, comes amid a backlash from medical professionals over remuneration and working conditions in the NHS, which has been stretched to breaking point during the pandemic.
“This award recognises all NHS staff, past and present, across all disciplines and all four nations,” the Queen, 95, said in a personal message accompanying the award.
“I know the whole of the UK is behind me in paying tribute and giving thanks for everything the NHS has done for us, not only in the last year, but since its inception.”
The NHS was established in 1948 as the centrepiece of social reforms following World War Two, with a mission to provide state-funded comprehensive universal healthcare.
NHS Chief Executive Simon Stevens said the honour recognised the skill, compassion and fortitude of staff right across the service in responding to the worst pandemic in a century.
