By Katrina Gracia Consebido
Filipina nurse May Parsons was among those who represented the United Kingdom’s (UK) National Health Service (NHS) at a Windsor Castle ceremony for the institution’s George Cross award on Tuesday, July 12.
The George Cross is the highest award given by the British Government to recognize “actions by civilians and military personnel not in the face of the enemy,” according to the Royal Family.
Parsons was the first nurse to administer the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine in December 2020. She was joined by UK NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard during the awarding ceremony.
She and other representatives of NHS were honored by Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Charles, Prince of Wales at the castle.
Today’s recipients included Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard of @NHSEngland and May Parsons, Modern Matron from University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, who administered the world’s first COVID vaccine in December 2020. pic.twitter.com/Eo1nxvBCpx
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) July 12, 2022
Parsons expressed gratitude for the award and to the facility for inspiring her to be the “best nurse” that she is.
She also acknowledged her colleagues for their hard work and dedication to the hospital as frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Today we have received the George Cross on behalf of NHS staff and I’d like to congratulate my team at University of Coventry for all the successes and for all of your work done, not just in the last two and a half years of the pandemic but as well as the last 74 years of the NHS,” she said.
“I would like to let you know that this is the team that has obviously inspired me and allowed me to be the best nurse I could be, and UHCW family you are the best. So congratulations and well done. This award is also for you,” she added.
Congratulations and Thank You to all NHS workers, past and present. pic.twitter.com/rZrOryZOIX
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) July 12, 2022
According to The Royal Family, this is “only the second time during The Queen’s 70-year reign that the award has been presented collectively to an organization or group of people.”
Queen Elizabeth presented the George Cross to the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1999. – ag
