Award the George Cross to the National Health Service
The Issue
The National Health Service has served the people of the United Kingdom steadfastly since 1948, providing 'cradle to the grave' healthcare which still holds true to it's three founding principles :
- That it meet the needs of everyone
- That it be free at the point of delivery
- That it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay
These principles create enourmous pressures on the NHS and never more so than now, with the massive burden brought by Covid-19, has the ability of the organisation and its staff to deliver been tested - but they are doing day in day out.
Every NHS staff member whether they work in the supply chain, as a nurse, doctor, in cleaning wards, as a bed manager or a porter all play a significant and vital role in the well being of each and every one of us. Presently we hear of doctors and nurses working with minimal personal protective equipment but still doing their absolute utmost, working as a team to fight the fire of this virus with drive, determination and vigour.
A suitable way of recognising this outstanding effort would be the award to the NHS, by HM The Queen, of the George Cross (GC). This is awarded for 'acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger'. It is difficult to think of a circumstance in peacetime which fits this description more so than the efforts being displayed in response to Covid-19.
Whilst the Geoge Cross is usually awarded to individuals this is truly a team effort. The GC has twice been awarded collectivelly, firstly to Malta during WWII by HM King George VI "to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history"; and secondly to the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1999 by HM Queen in recogniton of their being the "bulwark against, and the main target of, a sustained and brutal terrorism campaign...to recognise the collective courage and dedication to duty of all of those who have served in the Royal Ulster Constabulary and who have accepted the danger and stress this has brought to them and to their families".
The current sacrifices being peformed by NHS should be seen as directly comparable to these previous acts of heroism and the award of the George Cross would be symbolic of the enormous debt of gratitude that the United Kingdom owes to it.
The Issue
The National Health Service has served the people of the United Kingdom steadfastly since 1948, providing 'cradle to the grave' healthcare which still holds true to it's three founding principles :
- That it meet the needs of everyone
- That it be free at the point of delivery
- That it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay
These principles create enourmous pressures on the NHS and never more so than now, with the massive burden brought by Covid-19, has the ability of the organisation and its staff to deliver been tested - but they are doing day in day out.
Every NHS staff member whether they work in the supply chain, as a nurse, doctor, in cleaning wards, as a bed manager or a porter all play a significant and vital role in the well being of each and every one of us. Presently we hear of doctors and nurses working with minimal personal protective equipment but still doing their absolute utmost, working as a team to fight the fire of this virus with drive, determination and vigour.
A suitable way of recognising this outstanding effort would be the award to the NHS, by HM The Queen, of the George Cross (GC). This is awarded for 'acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger'. It is difficult to think of a circumstance in peacetime which fits this description more so than the efforts being displayed in response to Covid-19.
Whilst the Geoge Cross is usually awarded to individuals this is truly a team effort. The GC has twice been awarded collectivelly, firstly to Malta during WWII by HM King George VI "to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history"; and secondly to the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1999 by HM Queen in recogniton of their being the "bulwark against, and the main target of, a sustained and brutal terrorism campaign...to recognise the collective courage and dedication to duty of all of those who have served in the Royal Ulster Constabulary and who have accepted the danger and stress this has brought to them and to their families".
The current sacrifices being peformed by NHS should be seen as directly comparable to these previous acts of heroism and the award of the George Cross would be symbolic of the enormous debt of gratitude that the United Kingdom owes to it.
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Petition created on 26 March 2020