Date published: 27 January 2023

Mersey Care has been awarded the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Sefton for the hard work and dedication of its workforce in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.

The honour was presented at a special ceremony at Bootle Town Hall on 26 January alongside three other trusts – Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust and Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust – and is the highest ceremonial honour Sefton Council can bestow.

Chief Executive Prof Joe Rafferty CBE said: "Like all other NHS organisations, the COVID-19 pandemic presented huge challenges for Mersey Care, and I see this honour as recognition for everyone who have worked so hard during some of the most difficult times in the history of the NHS.

“We’ve had to adapt, quite often find different ways of working, but I’m extremely proud of the way we’ve continued to care and kept our mental health and community health patients and service users safe and wherever possible out of hospital and at home.”

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Pictured above: Prof Joe Rafferty CBE is pictured with the Freedom of the Borough of Sefton with Mayor Councillor Clare Louise Carragher.

Council Leader Ian Maher presented the award in recognition of the dedication, sacrifice and heroism show by local healthcare workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It really is an honour and a great pleasure to thank our NHS partners and healthcare heroes," he said. "“People were going into a situation during the pandemic where they did not know the outcomes. It is pure bravery.

“The Freedom of the Borough is awe of our frontline workers and I am confident that people across Sefton will agree that the work of these NHS staff need to be recognised and rewarded.”

Among those attending the ceremony including Chair Rosie Cooper, members of Mersey Care's Executive Board and a selection from the workforce.

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Pictured above: Mersey Care staff celebrate the award of the Freedom of the Borough of Sefton with Chair Rosie Cooper and Chief Executive Prof Joe Rafferty CBE (centre).