MANCHESTER: Britain's Queen Elizabeth 2nd will award the United Kingdom's state-run National Health Service (NHS) the country's highest civilian honor in recognition of health workers' service during the pandemic, the government announced on Monday.
The award of the George Cross, which is the civilian equivalent of Britain's Victoria Cross for extraordinary military heroism, comes amid outcry from medical professionals over pay and working conditions in the NHS, which has been pushed close to breaking point during the pandemic.