Column by Cllr Franklin Owusu-Antwi, South Gloucestershire Council's cabinet member for public health and equality of opportunity.

In light of the Queen’s decision to award the George Cross to National Health Service (NHS) staff, I would like to congratulate and thank our regional team of healthcare workers and support staff for their tireless work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a personal message to the NHS on its 73rd anniversary, Her Majesty the Queen bestowed the prestigious award – the highest that can be awarded to civilians – to past and present staff across the UK for working "with courage, compassion and dedication” for more than 70 years.

Her decision follows a motion passed by the Council last July to recognise local heroes, such as NHS staff, for their dedication to the public in the face of the greatest threat to our way of life in generations, calling for the Prime Minister and the Government to ensure they received suitable national recognition in a meaningful way. I was thrilled to see Her Majesty officially recognise their hard work on Monday with the George Cross, a suitable tribute to the bravery of the men and women across the service during the pandemic, as well as the incredible service to our country over the past seven decades.

This is only the third time the award has been presented to a collective body, country or organisation, rather than an individual, since it was instituted by the Queen’s father, George VI, in 1940.

I want to share the sentiment others have voices across the country this week in wishing the NHS a very happy birthday and thanking the heroes among its staff for their ongoing dedication to keeping the public healthy and safe. On behalf of everyone in South Gloucestershire, I send a huge thank you to all NHS staff, past and present, for all of your incredible efforts during the pandemic and over the past seven decades.