George Cross awarded to NHS Sister set to go on display at Ulster Museum

George Cross awarded to NHS Sister set to go on display at Ulster Museum

8 March 2023

THE George Cross awarded to a Dundrum nurse on behalf of her NHS colleagues is to go on public display at the Ulster Museum.

Sister Joanna Hogg was the first nurse in Ireland to receive the Covid-19 vaccine and was delighted last year to accept the highest civilian gallantry honour on behalf of her hardworking colleagues at a ceremony at Windsor Castle.

At the time, Joanna described it as the “honour of her life” with the awarding of the George Cross in recognition of the health and social care system in Northern Ireland’s courageous war against Covid-19 and its 73 years of dedicated service.

Mrs Hogg described the honour as an “appreciation and an honour for all of the hard work and dedication of all our colleagues” and said she was overwhelmed to be asked to receive the honour on behalf of her colleagues across the province.

She said at the time: “It has been the honour of my lifetime to be able to accept this on behalf of my colleagues and my health and social care family in Northern Ireland. It really is something that is going to go down as one of the best moments of my life.”

Joanna said she was privileged to receive the first vaccine in Northern Ireland and described the roll-out as a “turning point” in the pandemic.

Joanna helped lead the vaccination programme in Belfast in the first decisive step in the battle to beat the coronavirus back in December 2020. 

When she received the first Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine a round of applause broke out at the Royal Victoria Hospital as a colleague injected her arm.

“It felt great honestly, a bit emotional but absolutely fine,” Sister Hogg, then Sloan, had said.

“It just felt like a huge moment, that this could possibly be the final hurdle in the fight against Covid. It did not feel any different than any other immunisation that I have had, I did not feel any pain.”

Joanna’s George Cross was handed over to National Museums Northern Ireland by the Department of Health.

Mr Peter May, the Department’s permanent secretary, described the award of the George Cross as a “well-deserved recognition” for the courage and sacrifice of everyone who works in health and social care.

“I am delighted that it will now be on display in Northern Ireland for people to come and see,” he continued.

“The medal is for everyone working across Northern Ireland’s health and social care system at all levels. We will be forever indebted to them, for their commitment and expertise.”

Mr May added: “This year marks the 75th anniversary of the NHS and I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all members of our health and social care system in Northern Ireland, for your compassion and dedication.”

National Museums NI chief executive Kathryn Thomson said the organisation was delighted to accept what she described as this “significant addition” to the national collection due to the rarity and prestige associated with the George Cross medal.

She added: “It recognises the significant contribution the NHS has made, particularly during the pandemic, and we welcome visitors to the Ulster Museum to come and see it for themselves.”

The medal will be displayed from today in Pandemics Past and Present, which is located within the Modern History gallery at the Ulster Museum.