The George Cross medal that was awarded to the NHS last year is set to tour England from July, to mark the 75th birthday of the NHS.
The UK’s highest civilian gallantry medal will be displayed in Science Museums across England.
NHS staff were awarded the medal for their exceptional efforts, particularly during the pandemic. It is only the third time the medal has been awarded to an organisation for an act of great heroism. It was previously awarded to Malta in 1942 and to the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1999.
The cross is currently being kept at Windsor Castle and will begin its tour at the Science Museum in London from 6 July, as a temporary addition to Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries, the world’s largest museum devoted to the history of medical healthcare.
The cross will then travel to he Science and Industry Museum in Manchester from February 2024 before going to the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford from July. It will then visit the South West in 2025, with the venue to be confirmed in due course.
NHS chief executive, Amanda Pritchard and May Parsons, a matron for respiratory services who delivered the world’s first approved COVID vaccination, received the honour on behalf of the NHS. It was awarded by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony in Windsor Castle last July.
Pritchard said: “For 75 years, NHS staff have served our country – this year’s anniversary is an opportunity to reiterate our thanks to them, as well as to celebrate the history and achievements of the NHS, from the first organ transplants through to mass vaccination programmes which have saved thousands of lives.
“We were honoured to receive the George Cross from the late Queen on behalf of the NHS and I am delighted that – through our partnership with the Science Museum Group – NHS staff, volunteers and local communities will get to see the medal up close.”
Parsons said: “I was humbled and honoured to receive the George Cross, alongside Amanda, on behalf of the NHS and I am delighted it will be going on a tour during the NHS’s 75th year for staff, volunteers and the public to see.
“The George Cross is a truly fitting tribute to thousands of NHS staff and volunteers who went above and beyond during the pandemic and continue to do so every day”.
Shadowssettle, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
