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Maciel Vinagre is from Madeira and he thought it was a lie or a mistake when he read the notification that he had been distinguished by Queen Elizabeth II for his work as responsible for cleaning two British public hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was in the office and I got an email from the ‘Cabinet Office’ [ministério do Governo] say that he had been distinguished on the queen’s list. At first I thought it was a lie, it can only be a mistake. My colleagues told me to delete it because it could be a fraud, “he said, laughing, to the Lusa agency.
The 45-year-old Madeiran, born in São Vicente, was one of the British public health service (NHS) workers recognized on this year’s list of decorations for the Queen’s birthday for his services during the pandemic with the Medal of the British Empire (‘British Empire Medal’, designated by the title BEM).
“I never thought in my life that I could receive a medal like this,” confided, still incredulous, the deputy director of cleaning and restoration services at Ashford and St. Peter’s hospitals in south-west London, near Heathrow airport.
The nomination for the badge was made by colleagues and superiors for the “knowledge and creativity” they demonstrated to prevent and contain novel coronavirus infection within hospitals and protect not only patients, but also employees, by introduction of new technologies and products.
Hospital Medical Director David Fluck praised the Portuguese for “strong leadership during the pandemic in a team that played a key role in reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission in our hospitals.”
“[Vinagre] introduced changes in the way we keep our hospitals clean from now on, which will protect many patients and staff from danger, even after the end of the pandemic, ”said this official.
One of the novelties was the hiring of a company specialized in disinfestation to apply, by means of steam, a disinfectant product that it found and that keeps the surfaces free of viruses and bacteria for 30 days.
“It was a new product on the market and we didn’t know if it was effective. But we hire them to decontaminate everything from hallways to bathrooms to stairways in 24-hour shifts. It was worth it, the hospital has one of the lowest mortality rates in the area ”, he greeted.
The Portuguese faced another challenge when, in the middle of a crisis, the head nurse asked for a solution that would allow the reuse of sterilizing protective masks for health professionals because he did not know if he would receive a new supply, a situation that affected several hospitals in the region. country. United Kingdom.
“I made a line to dry the clothes, we hung up masks and we sterilized 500 in three days with ultraviolet light. Fortunately it was not necessary because new ones arrived, but if it was necessary, the process was ready,” Vinagre told Lusa.
The Portuguese was also praised for the way he managed to quickly hire workers to make up for absences and also for the responsible and responsive way in which he was able to motivate cleaning employees at a time when many were concerned about the risk that they themselves they ran.
Four hospital workers died of covid-19, including a cleaning employee under Vinagre, a 71-year-old civilian named Manuel Santinhos.
“He never wanted to go home, he always wanted to continue working. He spent three weeks in intensive care. It was very complicated because the colleagues were more afraid. But we had a mass with a priest and the director had a meeting with the employees to motivate” them and We did it, ”he explained.
Maciel Vinagre remembers “very difficult moments” between March and June, the worst months of the first wave of the pandemic, when the working day lasted for 15 hours.
The Portuguese leadership helped give visibility and importance to hospital cleaning teams due to the crucial role they play in the fight against the disease that has caused the death of more than 44 thousand people in the country.
Vinegar is one of 414 “anonymous heroes” who were awarded the Queen’s decorations in recognition of “exceptional” intervention during the crisis, from scientists and nurses to people who produced protective equipment or provided meals to healthcare professionals. and gym teachers who gave free Internet classes during the running of the bulls.
The Queen pays tribute to dozens of people twice a year, on New Years and on the occasion of the official anniversary, in June, on the recommendation of the Government.
Many are renowned personalities in areas such as sports, the arts, or public service, but they are also awarded strangers whose merit is evaluated by an official committee.
This year, the list was postponed until October to take into account nominations of individuals who played crucial roles during the first months of the pandemic and prioritized “frontline heroes” and the community who went beyond their obligations to help. the others.
The British Empire Medal dates back to 1917 and was awarded primarily to civilians and military personnel, but in 2011 it was reinstated as an award for individuals who are distinguished for their contributions to the community, whether through profession or volunteerism.
Unlike the Order of the British Empire, which includes the degrees of Member (MBE), Officer (OBE), Commander (CBE) or Knight and Lady (KBE and DBE) and which is personally conferred by the Queen or Prince Charles, BEM is presented by ‘Lord Lieutenant’, a local dignitary, on behalf of the monarch.
Previously, only two Portuguese were honored by Queen Elizabeth II: the painter Paula Rego, ordained in 2010 Official Lady of the Order of the British Empire, and Lino Pires in 2013, owner of a restaurant, with a BEM for services provided to the community. raising funds for social causes.
When obtaining these titles, the distinguished can use the corresponding acronym in their signature, after the name.
Maciel Vinagre came to the UK at age 18, leaving accounting studies behind to work in a restaurant and learn the English language and “taste a better life.”
He started as a janitor at Ashford Hospital in 1997 and moved to his current position as Deputy Director in 2011, in the meantime he had done other duties at other UK hospitals.
Even without a university degree, he accumulated a professional training that allowed him to progress to a level that he would hardly reach in Portugal, and today he leads some 200 people, including 30 Portuguese.
“I like the UK because here they value experience, dedicated and committed people and less academic degrees. They recognize their own merit, ”he told Lusa.
Depending on the evolution of the pandemic, the Portuguese and all other BEMs will be invited to a party at Buckingham Palace next year, in the presence of members of the royal family.
“My parents are in Madeira and they are very proud. But if I can bring someone, I will take my daughter,” he has already decided.
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