Touching moment Boris Johnson greets brave Phoebe, 9, at The Sun’s health awards

THIS is the touching moment that Prime Minister Boris Johnson greeted a young girl at The Sun's Who Cares Wins Awards.

Little Phoebe Sinclair has a prosthetic left arm and was seen chatting with the PM as guests made their way into the awards ceremony.

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The PM, 57, seemed in good spirits as he smiled and chatted to the youngster at the Roundhouse in Camden, north London.

Phoebe received a Hero Arm from nominees Joel Gibbard MBE and Samantha Payne MBE who are the founders of Open Bionics.

The PM also made time to chat to Carmela Chillery Watson, a seven-year-old girl who has spent the last 18 months walking hundreds of miles in her crown and flowing cape to raise funds for research into muscular dystrophy.

She is one of only seven people in the UK who has a rare type of the illness.

Carmela has been nominated for the Young Hero award.

The PM continued to mingle on entrance and even fist-bumped David Beckham as he made his way into the iconic London venue, where the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd have previously taken the stage.

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He also made time for a quick chat with Prince William, who is also out tonight to honour NHS heros.

Along with attendees such as the Prince and The Sun's very own columnists Dr Zoe Williams and Bowel Babe Deborah James, the PM will help celebrate celebrate our amazing doctors, nurses, midwives, surgeons, volunteers, researchers and charity workers.

Mr Johnson will be able to take some time out this evening after revealing his winter plans for Covid today - despite the tragic death of his mother.

His mother, professional painter Charlotte Johnson Wahl, who died last night at the age of 79.

The PM has this evening been joined by other government ministers such as health secretary Sajid Javid and chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak.

Mr Sunak arrived minutes after the PM, and Mr Javid not long after.

Mr Javid said the last two years have been the 'biggest challenge to health and social care in living memory'.

'A REAL PRIVILEGE'

He said: "All of the nominees are already winners in the eyes of the British public in terms of what they've what they've done and how they help when the nation really needed it.

"I feel really privileged to be here and to be able to mark the occasion. 

"It'll be great to hear stories from the stage but also hopefully to speak to the people on my table and others in person at the event. It'll be absolutely brilliant."

Events like this one have only been made possible by the tireless NHS and the vaccines campaign which has seen millions of Brits have jabs that protect them against severe Covid-19.

Two people who helped make that possible are also in attendance, Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert and Prof Andrew Pollard who helped spearhead the Oxford/AstraZenca vaccine.

After a hard year and a half battling through the pandemic, it’s never been more important to show our thanks to NHS workers and those who helped in the fight against the pandemic.

This year we have teamed up with The National Lottery and NHS Charities Together.

Last year generous Sun readers raised over £1million for the charity in order to get vital support to staff in their hour of need.

It will air on Channel 4 this Sunday at 7.30pm, but is taking place this evening – with TV favourite Davina McCall hosting.

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This year there are two new awards – the 999 Hero award and the Caroline Flack Mental Health Hero award.

We are launching the 999 Hero award to celebrate the incredible work of our emergency services.

That includes ambulance workers, police, fire service and air ambulance personnel.

And this year’s Who Cares Wins awards is honouring the late TV presenter Caroline Flack by naming a gong in her honour with her family’s support.

Monthly mental health referrals across the UK hit their highest point in two years in August, with one in five suffering from depression at some point last year.

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But there are incredible people who aim to make a difference in their communities – providing solace and a safe space for those who need to talk.

• The Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards will be broadcast on Channel 4 and All 4 on Sunday at 7.30pm.

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