英医療従事者らに文民最高位勲章　女王が授与へ

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】英国のエリザベス女王は、新型コロナウイルス流行下の医療従事者らの献身をたたえ、公的医療制度「国民保健サービス（ＮＨＳ）」に文民最高位の勲章を授与する。政府が５日、発表した。（写真は英国のエリザベス女王）
　エリザベス女王は発表に際し、「この勲章は、現職・退職者を問わず、部門を超えて、四つのネーションの全職員をたたえるものだ」との個人的なメッセージを添えた。
　さらに女王は、ＮＨＳ職員が「団結して７０年以上にわたり、勇気と思いやり、献身の心で国民を支え、最高水準の公共サービスを実行した」とし、「私たち皆からの、尽きることのない心からの謝意を表する」とつづった。
　ボリス・ジョンソン政権は、ＮＨＳ職員の尽力を定期的にたたえてはいるものの、同職員に１％の昇給しか与えていないとして批判を受けている。
　医療専門家団体は、ＮＨＳ職員の深刻な精神的・肉体的疲労に警鐘を鳴らしており、労働環境が改善されなければ職員が一斉離職する恐れもあると指摘している。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/07/07-13:03）

Britain's Queen Elizabeth will award the UK's state-run National Health Service (NHS) the country's highest civilian honour in recognition of health workers' service during the pandemic, the government announced 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.
This award recognises all NHS staff, past and present, across all disciplines and all four nations, the Queen, 95, said in a personal message accompanying the award.
Collectively, over more than seven decades, they have supported the people of our country with courage, compassion and dedication, demonstrating the highest standards of public service.
You have the enduring thanks and heartfelt appreciation of us all, she added.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was hospitalised with Covid in April last year, said he had witnessed their courage first-hand, saying Britain wouldn't be where we are today without our health services.
I know the whole of the UK is behind me in paying tribute and giving thanks for everything the NHS has done for us not only in the last year, but since its inception, he added.
While Johnson's government has routinely praised the efforts of NHS workers, instituting a weekly clap for carers during the first wave of the virus, it has been criticised for offering only a one percent pay rise to staff.
Already under severe strain before the pandemic hit, the NHS has had to contend with one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in Europe, which has led to over 128,000 deaths in Britain and nearly five million cases.
Professional bodies have warned of severe mental and physical exhaustion in the NHS and a likely exodus of staff if conditions are not improved.
The Royal College of Nursing wants a 12.5 percent pay rise for staff and has warned large numbers of nurses could leave the profession after the pandemic is over.