Hero paramedic who treated UK’s first Covid patient to attend Coronation Ceremony

The paramedic who attended the UK’s first Covid patient in 2020 will attend the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey this weekend.

Chris Bell is one of hundreds of NHS staff to receive tickets to the weekend’s events, including the coronation concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday.

Mr Bell, a paramedic and A&E operations team leader based in York, will be attending the ceremony along with NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard.

He said, “The thought of being invited to the king’s coronation had not even crossed my mind.

“It’s a huge honor to represent the Yorkshire Ambulance Service and the ambulance service as a whole.”

Two hundred staff will sit in first place for Saturday’s procession in recognition of dedication and service during the health service’s 75-year history.

A special grandstand near Buckingham Palace gives them a unique view of Their Majesties the King and Queen Consort departing for Westminster Abbey and returning in the Gold State Coach after being formally crowned.

They also see the appearance of the royal family on the palace balcony and the spectacular military forces fly by.

Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu will play a key role in the ceremony, carrying the golden Sovereign Orb.

Dame Elizabeth first started working in the NHS at the age of 16 as a school nurse’s assistant in Wolverhampton, becoming the UK’s first sickle cell nurse. She devoted her career to working with black and minority ethnic communities in London, and was recognized as one of the 70 most influential nurses and midwives in the history of the NHS as the health service celebrated its 70th birthday.

On Sunday, another 50 NHS staff from across the country will attend the coronation concert, held at Windsor Castle, where they will enjoy entertainment from the likes of Take That, Olly Murs, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Tom Cruise and Winnie the Pooh.

A 300-piece Coronation Choir will also perform at the concert, including members of Hull’s NHS choir, and Emma Withey, a housekeeper at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and member of UNIFY Choir, a completely deaf sign group and the only deaf choir in The United Kingdom.

Trusts across the country will help patients, staff and volunteers get into the coronation spirit, with some holding tea parties and serving coronation quiche, showing the coronation and concert on Sunday, and miles of streamers decorating hallways and receptions.

Ms Pritchard said: ‘It is an extraordinary honor to be asked to attend the coronation service on behalf of the NHS.

“That so many health staff have been invited to be part of this historic occasion shows the respect and admiration the Royal Family has for the NHS and the work our dedicated staff do.

“As we begin a new chapter for the country with the coronation of His Majesty King Charles, we also look to the future of healthcare and the opportunities ahead as we reflect on the incredible history and achievements of our organization – and our employees and volunteers – for 75 years.’

She added: “From Britain’s first heart transplant in 1958, pioneering new treatments such as bionic eyes and, in more recent times, the world’s first rapid sequencing service for critically ill babies and children, and rolling out the largest and fastest vaccination program throughout the history of the NHS during the Covid pandemic, healthcare has always adapted to the changing needs of the country, and will continue to do so to ensure local care is fit for the future.”

Accident and emergency care will continue to be available on the holiday, including urgent dental and GP appointments.

As part of the year-round NHS 75 activities, people will have the chance to see the George Cross – Britain’s highest civilian honor – awarded to the health service last year, while it will be presented by science museums from July travels in England.

First announced by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the NHS’s 73rd birthday, the medal recognizes the ‘courage, compassion and dedication’ of NHS staff and volunteers during the pandemic, as well as the work of the NHS since its foundation in 1948. .

It is only the third time in British history that the medal has been awarded to an organization rather than an individual, and the NHS in each of the four countries received their own George Cross.