THE trust that runs Whiston, St Helens and Newton-le-Willows Hospitals has been awarded the highest honour a council can give after being bestowed the title of Freedom of the Borough.

The virtual meeting heard many heartfelt and emotional speeches about the sacrifice and hard work of the NHS in the past year as well as tributes and thanks to all key workers who kept the country moving.

Proposing the motion, Labour Leader of the Council David Baines said: “I am delighted to propose St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust be bestowed Freedom of the borough.

"I want to thank our Labour colleagues in Knowsley and their leader Graham Morgan for working together with us in making this happen across both our boroughs.

"This pandemic has shown us all what really matters and the people and services which are really vital to a caring, functioning and healthy society.

"Our incredible NHS, postal workers, shopworkers, delivery drivers, the logistics industry, schools, colleges and nurseries, police and fire and rescue services, council staff, care home workers and more – these are the key workers our society cannot do without and we thank each and one of them.

St Helens Star:

Whiston Hospital - Picture by Steve Samosa

"The National Health Service is one of the greatest achievements of any government.

"Care for those who need it, free at the point of need, staffed by people who day in day out go above and beyond the call of duty even in so-called normal times.

"Of course the last year has been anything but normal, and the pressure on the NHS has been immense. Together we’ve all endured lockdowns and restrictions so that we might ease that pressure and save lives, and throughout it all the NHS has been there for us.

"Chief executive Ann Marr and our local NHS Trust have performed an outstanding service for local people throughout the pandemic, caring for those suffering from Covid and other illnesses, and working with others including our council in setting up community testing and a vaccination programme which established the region’s first mass vaccination site at Saints, and which has led to St Helens having the highest vaccine take-up in the city region with around 100,000 people now having received at least one jab.

"It’s an astonishing achievement, and that’s why we’re proposing this evening that they receive the highest honour we can give.”

Following the unanimous vote in favour of the proposal, the honour will be presented at a future meeting of council.

Ann Marr, said: “It is a great honour for the Trust to receive such a prestigious accolade, one that is afforded to very few people and even fewer organisations.

"That both St Helens and Knowsley Councils hold the staff at our Trust in such high esteem is a true demonstration of their respect for the courage and compassion they have shown over the very difficult past 12 months.

"The admiration for our staff from our local communities is well deserved. They continue to be an inspiration to all those they care for, as well as their families, and I am extremely proud that their bravery and sacrifice during the pandemic is to be recognised in such an incredible way.”

Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron added: “Try to imagine a UK where we didn’t have committed workers running a world beating NHS system free at the point of entry.

"It’s spectacular. And during the pandemic, they’ve worked longer and harder, relentlessly striving to keep us safe, sometimes paying the ultimate price due to this terrible pandemic at Newton-le-Willows, St Helens and Whiston Hospitals, and hospitals throughout the Country.

"I know from my own loss during Covid that the NHS have saved people I love, and with others, made them comfortable enough to die with dignity and surrounded by those that love them.

"I can’t ever put that into words what it meant to us, but the thing we can do is grant the NHS the highest honour we can give; Freedom of our Borough.

"If it was in my power, I’d give them the pay rise they deserve too.

"But for now, I’m proud to support giving them our highest award as a gesture of thanks for everything they’ve done, from top management to shop floor.

"Thank you NHS.”