George Cross a fitting tribute to NHS workers

Viewpoint

The Queen awards the George Cross to DoH permanent secretary Peter May and Sister Joanna Hogg of Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast

July 13 2022 11:00 AM

Sometimes a simple thank-you can mean an awful lot. It’s something we don’t do enough of. And when that thank-you comes directly from Her Majesty the Queen it means an awful lot more.

It’s fitting that the NHS, which did so much over the past two years, was invited to Windsor Castle to be awarded the George Cross.

And it was wonderful to hear the Queen in fine form quipping to the nurse who delivered the first dose of Covid vaccine: “You’re still alive!”

What would be an even more fitting tribute, to fully demonstrate the gratitude of the nation, is to show the NHS the respect it deserves through government backing up the platitudes with the funding it needs to continue operating as it was always intended to.

The NHS should not be taken for granted. We must all be thankful for the efforts in the fight against Covid, and all through the years of its existence.

In the meantime it will do all those who work in the NHS some good to know their efforts are appreciated.