PRIME minister Rishi Sunak heaped praise on “all the brilliant people” working in our NHS, at The Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards.
Taking to the stage to present the Best Team award, the PM said as the son of an NHS pharmacist he understood the incredible sacrifice staff make.
“It’s a privilege to be here at the Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards celebrating our healthcare heroes and the amazing things that you do, every single day – saving lives, caring for the sick, protecting our nation’s health,” Rishi told the star-studded audience.
“You put your hearts and souls into your work and coming from an NHS family, I know exactly what that takes.
“Your dedication and commitment to public service is inspiring.
“So please join me in saying a huge and heartfelt thank you to all of tonight’s nominees and winners and to all the brilliant people looking after others in every part of our country.”
After a huge round of applause, the PM presented the gong to the Welsh Ambulance ‘Wish’ Service.
The team of incredible paramedics and ambulance technicians give up their own time to help dying patients fulfil their last wishes.
So far, the team has granted around 50 wishes, and ambulance care assistant Katie Morgans, 27, told Rishi of one of the most memorable.
She recalled the time they took a man to his daughter’s wedding because his last wish was to walk her down the aisle.
“It was really special to help a family like this and it meant a lot to them,” she said.
Mark Harris, 54, assistant director of Ambulance Care for the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, said it was a huge honour to meet the Prime Minister.
He said: “It was especially amazing to receive this award from the Prime Minister.
“It’s been a tough time for all ambulance services but this shines a light on the amazing work so many do.
“What we hope is that this is a springboard for other trusts to set up similar schemes. We want it to be huge as it helps so many patients and their families.”
Dr Edward O’Brien, clinical lead palliative and end of life care, said of their win: “It’s incredible recognition for all of the volunteers who give up their time to help people at the end of their lives.
“They are the ones who go out and look after the families in their spare time. It’s a huge honour to have won, especially when you look at the calibre of other nominees.”
It was yet another moment when the audience were reduced to tears, including NHS CEO Amanda Pritchard, who told The Sun the stories served to highlight the “miracles” performed by staff every single day.
She said: “The opportunity to shine a light on those individuals, teams and organisations that do their best for patients every single day is more important now than almost ever before.
“The everyday miracles that are performed by staff across the NHS are often lost in the bigger story about the level of pressure that the NHS is under.
“This evening honoured some of the incredible people in our NHS who have gone above and beyond to make a real difference to people’s lives.
“But it is also a reminder that these are things that happen in the NHS all the time.
“I think I’d run through an entire packet of tissues by the time we got through the second award.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “It was a privilege to hear some incredible stories at The Sun’s Who Cares Wins award and I’d like to congratulate all the winners and nominees on a fantastic evening.
“Holding an event like this, rightly recognises the work of the NHS staff, volunteers and charity workers who go above and beyond every day.”
Labour’s shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, said: “ It was inspiring to meet some of the heroes of the NHS and hear their stories of remarkable bravery and compassion.
“The state of the NHS today fills me with despair, but the people working in the NHS fill me with hope.
“When the NHS treated me for kidney cancer, there was a lot on my mind, but the one thing I never had to worry about was the bill.
“James Corden is right – we can’t take for granted having an NHS that is free at the point of need.”
