A KILN Green resident is urging the Prime Minister to award NHS workers with medals for their work tackling coronavirus.
Simon Chapman has called on Boris Johnson to grant an MBE to every doctor and nurse who has put themself at risk, and a bonus of £1,000 to all NHS workers for each day they helped combat the outbreak in hospitals.
Mr Chapman, age 70, issued the appeal from his home near Wargrave, and said the bravery of the NHS made them the modern-day equivalent of war heroes, and they should be honoured as such.
“No words, no medals and no amount of money can settle the debt we owe to our NHS heroes,” said Mr Chapman. “But there is a clear sense that the British people need to see some tangible recognition of the selfless service they have given us during this terrifying ordeal.
“I have asked the Prime Minister to do the right thing, that’s all.”
In his official appeal, Mr Chapman said: “Dear Prime Minister, I am delighted that you are recovering well from your virus and I hope that you will see sense in my proposal.
“I want you to award all NHS front line staff an MBE. In a conventional war they would surely have qualified for a medal.
“Then I want you to give them a pecuniary reward: £1,000 for every day they spent on coronavirus duty.
“I’m sure there will be myriad reasons why neither of the above is practicable but I want you to cut through all that and just do it — if the rest of us have to pay more tax to do it, so be it.
“I have no friends or family who work for the NHS and I have fortunately never had to stay in a hospital.
“But we were all in their care during this pandemic and we marvelled at their bravery — as did you.
“Please do the right thing. You will be advised not to, but just do it because it’s right.
“The British people will applaud you for it, as will the NHS.”
