Petition · past parliament
Offer highest civilian award to health care workers who lost their lives.
Rejected
21 signatures
What the petition asks
The highest civilian award (George or Victoria cross) should be awarded to every NHS and allied health care/key worker who lost their lives in fighting the Corona virus pandemic on the frontline.
The Government should recognise the selfless and valiant efforts put in by health care workers and others in allied sectors. These awards should be offered posthumously to the brave people who sadly lost their lives while caring for other people while fighting an unknown war with an unseen enemy. People who have put in outstanding efforts to heal people in these testing times and are alive should also be recognised for their sense of duty and responsibility.
Why it was rejected
It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.
We cannot accept petitions that call for specific awards or honours, such as the George Cross, to be given to individuals or organisations, because we can only accept petitions about matters for which the Government or Parliament are responsible for.
There is an independent process for considering nominations for awards and honours, including the George Cross, and advising the Queen on granting these, so it is not something the Government or Parliament can do.
Information about Civilian gallantry is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/civilian-gallantry-operation#the-george-cross-committee
And details of how to nominate someone for an honour or award are available here: https://www.gov.uk/honours/recommend-bravery-award
You may wish to sign these petitions calling for a similar action:
Award Covid-19 medals to all emergency services and involved armed forces: Award Covid-19 medals to all emergency services and involved armed forces
A medal to honour the fortitude of people working in essential occupations: A medal to honour the fortitude of people working in essential occupations
Award medals to the retired doctors and nurses who returned to NHS for COVID19: Award medals to the retired doctors and nurses who returned to NHS for COVID19
Award posthumous medals to NHS and other frontline workers; victims of covid-19: Award posthumous medals to NHS and other frontline workers; victims of covid-19.
You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
The Government has also created an online service to help you out what you can do if you’re struggling because of coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support
You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips
You can read impartial analysis of the Government response to coronavirus and policy developments here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/coronavirus/
You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Find out more: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/192/the-governments-response-to-coronavirus/
There is an independent process for considering nominations for awards and honours, including the George Cross, and advising the Queen on granting these, so it is not something the Government or Parliament can do.
Information about Civilian gallantry is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/civilian-gallantry-operation#the-george-cross-committee
And details of how to nominate someone for an honour or award are available here: https://www.gov.uk/honours/recommend-bravery-award
You may wish to sign these petitions calling for a similar action:
Award Covid-19 medals to all emergency services and involved armed forces: Award Covid-19 medals to all emergency services and involved armed forces
A medal to honour the fortitude of people working in essential occupations: A medal to honour the fortitude of people working in essential occupations
Award medals to the retired doctors and nurses who returned to NHS for COVID19: Award medals to the retired doctors and nurses who returned to NHS for COVID19
Award posthumous medals to NHS and other frontline workers; victims of covid-19: Award posthumous medals to NHS and other frontline workers; victims of covid-19.
You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
The Government has also created an online service to help you out what you can do if you’re struggling because of coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support
You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips
You can read impartial analysis of the Government response to coronavirus and policy developments here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/coronavirus/
You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Find out more: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/192/the-governments-response-to-coronavirus/
Timeline
| 2 May 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 22 May 2020 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
21
Status
Rejected
Rejected
22 May 2020
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.