Two more nurses have died from coronavirus, taking the NHS death toll to more than 30, amid an escalating row over the availability of personal protective equipment.
Donna Campbell, 54, died after testing positive for coronavirus and being admitted into intensive care at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.
Kevin Smith, who worked putting plaster casts on patients at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, South Yorkshire, died from coronavirus after working for the NHS for 35 years.
It came as pharmacy worker Mandy Siddorn, 61, from Birkenhead, Merseyside, died from coronavirus.
Three nurses died from coronavirus yesterday. Experienced nurse Julie Omar, 52, died after treating patients, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said. She had been self-isolating at home after developing symptoms.
Nurse Sara Trollope has died after testing positive for the virus at Watford General Hospital and nurse Gareth Roberts, who had more than 40 years experience, has died, Cardiff and Vale NHS Healthcare Trust said.
A total of 30 frontline workers, including nurses, doctors and hospital staff, have died since the outbreak began.
Donna Campbell, 54, tested positive for coronavirus after being admitted into intensive care at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. She has been described as a bubbly personality
Mandy Siddorn, 61, who worked for a pharmacist in the north-west of England died after contracting coronavirus
Kevin Smith, who worked putting plaster casts on patients at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, died after catching coronavirus. Colleagues paid tribute to him as an ‘incredible person’ who ‘loved his job’ and as a man who was ‘renowned for his warm personality’
Tributes have been paid to mother Ms Campbell who was known for singing and dancing patients at the Velindre cancer hospital. She had worked there for 20 years after first gaining a position as a volunteer and could light up a room with bright and bubbly personality.
The Velindre University NHS Trust said: ‘She was often found singing and dancing, entertaining patients and staff, making everyone smile.
‘Donna will always have a special place in our hearts and we will all want to send our heartfelt sympathy and love to her family at this very difficult time.’
‘Our staff and particularly Donna’s team on First Floor Ward, are completely heartbroken that their beautiful, kind-hearted friend and colleague has died’.
‘She was without doubt a treasured member of our work family who could light up a room with her infectious laugh and bubbly personality.
‘But at the same time she had the most wonderful ability to comfort and care for people.’
Mr Smith’s heartbroken daughter Ellie Whitley wrote on social media: ‘It’s so overwhelming to see so many amazing comments for such an incredible person who loved his job and everyone he worked with for many years.
‘Thank you everyone. We will all miss him greatly but never forget him, ever!’
The chief executive at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, Richard Parker OBE, said: ‘I am utterly heartbroken to share the news that Kevin Smith, a well-respected and hugely popular member of our team, has sadly passed away following a brief but courageous battle with Covid-19.
‘A plaster technician and valued member of the team for over 35 years, Kev, as he was known to friends and colleagues, was renowned for his warm personality, diligence and compassion.’
Experienced nurse Julie Omar, 52, has died, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said. She had been self-isolating after developing coronavirus-like symptoms
Ms Omar had been working at the Alexandra hospital, Redditch, before contracting the virus
Tributes have been paid to Ms Siddorn, who worked at Swettenham Chemists Ltd which operates branches across Chester, Wirral and north Wales.
The business said on Friday: ‘It is with much sadness that we acknowledge the loss of one of our Swettenham “family”, Mandy, who passed away as a result of contracting coronavirus.
‘Mandy worked across our Wirral and Chester branches as a registered checking technician, the highest non-pharmacist role, and did so with outstanding professionalism and accuracy.
‘We are all devastated by this tragic loss and our thoughts go out to all who knew her.
‘Mandy is being remembered as a loyal, hardworking, dedicated and joyous friend to all of us. Yesterday was probably the hardest day the teams have ever faced.’
She leaves behind her mother Dorothy, daughter Aimee, son-in-law Steve, granddaughter Molly and sister-in-law Jane.
Mrs Trollope, 51, who has worked at Hillingdon Hospital, died at Watford General Hospital, the Central and North West London (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust said on Saturday.
The mother-of-four had spent 33 years working for the NHS and has been praised for her empathy and support for older people with dementia.
Medical director Dr Paul Hopper said: ‘Sara had that unbeatable combination of kindness, selflessness and total determination to get things right for patients. She was an example to every one of us.’
Tracy Woods, who set up a fundraiser for Mrs Trollope’s family, said: ‘Sara cared very much about her patients and staff and completely loved her job.
‘Sadly it was the job that cost her life.’
Sara Trollope, 51, was confirmed to have died by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust. She had previously met Boris Johnson
Nurse Gareth Roberts, who came out of retirement to work for the NHS during the crisis, has also died
Experienced nurse Ms Omar had been working at Redditch’s Alexandra hospital before she contracted the virus.
Trust chief executive Matthew Hopkins said: ‘It is with great sorrow that I have to share with you the sad news that a much-loved member of our nursing team – Julie Omar – has died.’
Nurse Gareth Roberts, who had more than 40 years experience, was also confirmed to have died after testing positive for the virus, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said.
He had come out of retirement to work for the NHS during the crisis.
Paying tribute to Mr Roberts, a nurse since the 1980s, colleagues at the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: ‘Gareth was well known by everyone and was extremely popular, fun-filled and well-liked person, always greeting everyone with, ‘Hello Cariad’ when he saw them.
‘He had a lovely way with relatives and always offered the caring personal side, he was very much an ‘old school’ nurse.’
Mr Roberts, who is survived by his wife, son and grandson, died at the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil.
Two porters at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford were also confirmed to have died.
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said on Saturday that both men were married to nursing staff at the hospital.
Dr Bruno Holthof, chief executive officer, and Sir Jonathan Montgomery, chair of the Trust, said: ‘This tragic loss of our two colleagues touches us all.
‘We are a team and every single member of our team is precious. We all need each other and we stand together in honouring the memories of our colleagues.’
Business Secretary Alok Sharma told Sky’s Ridge on Sunday today: ‘It is right that no medical professional should be placed in this position where they have to make that choice.
On Saturday morning, Health Secretary Matt Hancock paid tribute to those who had died, then announcing a total of 19 deaths.
He said: ‘My heart goes out to their families, these are people who have put themselves on the front line.
‘The work is going on to establish whether they caught coronavirus in the line of duty while at work or whether, like so many other people, caught it in the rest of their lives.’
The deaths come amid escalating disputes about the availability of personal protective equipment. The nurses union, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), has advised staff that they can refuse to treat coronavirus patients if adequate equipment is not available.
The government has repeatedly insisted that there is enough equipment on the frontlines while nurses have reported shortages and have even said they have been required to wear bin bags for protection.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma told Sophy Ridge on Sunday that more equipment was being sent to hospitals across the country.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has said there is a ‘mismatch’ between what officials are saying and what is being reported on the frontlines.
NHS heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice while treating coronavirus patients
Leilani Dayrit, 47, died of suspected coronavirus at St Cross Hospital in Rugby, Warwickshire. The Trust is yet to make a comment.
Elsie Sazuze, a care home nurse who worked for Wolverhampton-based agency Totallycare, died this week, the agency confirmed.
Two porters at the John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford have died, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said on Saturday. The trust added that both men were married to nursing staff at the hospital.
Nurse Leilani Dayrit, 47, died of suspected coronavirus at St Cross Hospital in Rugby
Liz Glanister, a nurse at Aintree University Hospital, died on Friday April 3.
Areema Nasreen, 36, died on April 2 in intensive care at Walsall Manor Hospital in the West Midlands – where she had worked as a nurse for 16 years.
Aimee O’Rourke, 39, died at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQMH) in Margate, Kent, where she worked as a nurse, on April 9.
Rebecca Mack, 29, died on Sunday after going into self-isolation with coronavirus symptoms.
Donald Suelto, who worked at Hammersmith Hospital in west London, died after going into self-isolation with coronavirus symptoms, a friend and fellow NHS nurse said.
The Mail on Sunday reported that 27-year-old nurse John Alagos – who treated coronavirus patients at Watford General Hospital – died after a shift on Friday April 3.
Nurse Alice Kit Tak Ong, 70, passed away on Tuesday, her daughter said.
Healthcare Assistant Glen Corbin, 59, had worked at the Park Royal Centre for Mental Health in Harlesden, north-west Lodon, for more than 25 years
Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex on Sunday April 5 announced the death of 54-year-old midwife Lynsay Coventry while Janice Graham, a 58-year-old healthcare support worker in Scotland, died on Monday.
Healthcare assistant Thomas Harvey, 57, a father-of-seven who worked at Goodmayes Hospital in Ilford, east London, died at home on March 29.
Another healthcare assistant, Glen Corbin, 59, had worked at the Park Royal Centre for Mental Health in Harlesden, north-west London, for more than 25 years.
Dr Habib Zaidi, 76, a GP in Leigh-on-Sea, died in intensive care at Southend Hospital, Essex, on March 25.
Amged El-Hawrani, an ear, nose and throat consultant with University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB), died at the Glenfield Hospital in Leicester on March 28.
Dr Alfa Saadu, 68, who had returned to work from retirement, died on Monday at the Whittington Hospital in north London.
Transplant surgeon Adil El Tayar, 63, died at West Middlesex University Hospital in Isleworth, west London, on March 25.
Professor Sami Shousha, 79, who had worked at UK cancer research laboratories at London’s Hammersmith and Charing Cross hospitals since 1978, died on April 2.
Consultant geriatrician Anton Sebastianpillai, who had a long association with Kingston Hospital in south-west London, died on April 4.
Consultant urologist Abdul Mabud Chowdhury, 53, who wrote a Facebook post asking Prime Minister Boris Johnson to urgently provide every NHS worker with PPE, died on Wednesday night.
Dr Edmond Adedeji, 62, who worked as a locum registrar in the emergency department of Great Western Hospital in Swindon, Wiltshire, died on April 8.
Jitendra Rathod, an associate specialist in cardio-thoracic surgery at the University Hospital of Wales, died on Monday morning.
GP Fayez Ayache, 76, died in Ipswich Hospital on April 8.
Another family doctor, Syed Haider, who worked in Dagenham east London, died in hospital on Monday after it is believed he developed coronavirus symptoms.
Patient discharge planner Barbara Moore, 54, died on Monday, the Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said.