Guernsey Press

The NHS workers who have died during the coronavirus pandemic

A radiology support worker and a mental health nurse are among the latest known to have died.

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From porters to doctors, dozens of NHS staff have died while fighting the coronavirus.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the Government had now identified 27 NHS workers who had died after contracting coronavirus, however the true total is thought to be significantly greater.

These are the names of health service workers known by the PA news agency to have died during the pandemic.

– Jane Murphy, clinical support worker

Aged 73, Ms Murphy worked at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for almost 30 years, first as a cleaner before being retrained as a clinical support worker.

“Jane would help anybody out, but would tell you if you were wrong,” a friend said.

– Dr Krishan Arora, GP

Dr Krishan Arora was a senior partner at Violet Lane Medical Practice, and had been a GP in Croydon for 27 years.

He died on April 15 after testing positive for the virus.

The 57-year-old had followed national guidance and self-isolated at home when he developed symptoms and was not in work at the time of his death.

Dr Krishan Arora (Family handout)

Colleague Dr Agnelo Fernandes said: “We are all greatly saddened by the death of Dr Krishan Arora. Krish was extremely well-liked and worked tirelessly to care for his patients and improve services for everyone in Croydon.

“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Krish’s family, friends and close colleagues at this difficult time. We will miss him.”

– Gladys Mujajati, mental health nurse

Coronavirus – Fri Apr 17, 2020
Gladys Mujajati (Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust/PA)

Ms Mujajati, who had an underlying health condition and had stepped away from work in recent weeks, died in hospital, the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said.

– Lourdes Campbell, healthcare assistant

Known as “Des” to her colleagues, the healthcare assistant was remembered as “diligent and compassionate” by the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.

In a statement on April 16, chief executive of the trust Fiona Noden said Ms Campbell died in the critical care unit at Royal Bolton Hospital after contracting the virus.

-Amrik Bamotra, radiology support worker

Coronavirus – Fri Apr 17, 2020
Amrik Bamotra, 63, a radiology support worker at King George Hospital in London who is thought to have died from coronavirus (PA)

The 63-year-old had worked at the King George Hospital in Ilford, east London, for four years, and is suspected to have died from coronavirus. His death was announced on April 15.

– Andy Treble, theatre assistant

Andy Treble (right) died on Wednesday (Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board/PA)
Andy Treble, right, died on April 15 (Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board/PA)

His sister, Maria Molloy, described her brother – who had worked at the hospital for almost 40 years – as a “kind man” who dedicated his life to his profession and “always had a smile on his face”.

– Linnette Cruz, dental nurse

The 51-year-old senior head nurse at the Brynteg dental practice in Sketty died on April 14 having been admitted with Covid-19 in March, according to NHS Wales.

Linnette Cruz, 51, who passed away on April 14
Linnette Cruz, 51, who died on April 14 (NHS Wales)

– Josiane Zauma Ebonja Ekoli, nurse

Aged 55, the mother of five was an agency nurse who lived in Leeds and worked at Harrogate Hospital. She died on April 13.

Josiane Zauma Ebonja Ekoli, an agency nurse at Harrogate District Hospital, died after contracting Covid-19
Josiane Zauma Ebonja Ekoli, an agency nurse at Harrogate District Hospital, died after contracting Covid-19 (Family handout/PA)

– Dr Peter Tun, associate specialist

Dr Peter Tun was remembered as a “superhero dad” by his children (Family handout/PA Wire)
Dr Peter Tun was remembered as a ‘superhero dad’ by his children (Family handout/PA)

The 62-year-old, who died in the intensive care unit at the hospital on April 12, was called a “superhero dad” by his two sons in a tribute.

“To us, he was simply the best human we know and we will miss him every day,” they said.

– Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong, nurse

Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong, a pregnant NHS nurse who died from Covid-19
Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong, a pregnant NHS nurse who died from Covid-19 (GoFundMe/PA)

David Carter, chief executive at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Mary worked here for five years and was a highly valued and loved member of our team, a fantastic nurse and a great example of what we stand for in this trust.”

– Cheryl Williams, ward housekeeper

Housekeeper Cheryl Williams, who died after contracting Covid-19
Housekeeper Cheryl Williams, who died after contracting Covid-19 (Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust/Handout)

Ms Williams, who worked as a housekeeper on an elderly patient ward at the hospital in Edmonton, north London, died on April 12.

– Maureen Ellington, healthcare assistant

Grandmother Mrs Ellington, who was in her early 60s, worked at Southmead Hospital in Bristol and died on April 12.

She had worked for the NHS for more than 25 years at both Frenchay and Southmead hospitals.

Her family said: “She would light up any room she entered. She will always be in our hearts.”

– Leilani Medel, nurse

Mrs Medel, who worked as an agency nurse in South Wales, was described as a “wonderful and caring person”. Her employers, Cardiff-based Hoop Recruitment, said: “The nursing profession has lost a warm-natured and beautiful nurse who cared for so many vulnerable people during her nursing career.”

– Amarante Dias, hospital worker

Amarante Dias, who worked at the Weston General Hospital in north Somerset, was described as a “valued and much-loved colleague” and would be “greatly missed”.

– Melujean Ballesteros, nurse

The “dedicated and very caring” Filipino nurse, 60, died at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, on April 12, just two days after being admitted.

– Kevin Smith, plaster technician

Plaster technician Kevin Smith
Plaster technician Kevin Smith who died after contracting Covid-19 (Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust/PA)

He worked at the hospital for more than 35 years and was “renowned for his warm personality, diligence and compassion”, the trust said.

– Oscar King Jr, hospital porter

Aged 45, Oscar King Jr, a Filipino porter at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, died on April 11.

He was said to have worked for the hospital for more than a decade, “always doing his job with great enthusiasm and joy”.

– Elbert Rico, hospital porter

A colleague of Mr King Jr at John Radcliffe, Mr Rico worked as a porter there since moving to the UK from the Philippines in 2004 “and loved the work that he did”, according to a fundraising page published by his family.

– Gareth Roberts, nurse

The death of the “extremely popular” Mr Roberts, who came out of retirement in 2015 having worked since the 1980s, was confirmed by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board on April 11.

– Donna Campbell, healthcare support worker

Donna Campbell, who worked at the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff
Donna Campbell, who worked at the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff (Velindre University NHS Trust/PA)

– Sara Dee Trollope, nurse

A 51-year-old matron for older adult mental health services in Hillingdon, west London, Mrs Trollope died at Watford General Hospital on April 10 after testing positive for the virus.

The mother of four was described as “an example to every one of us” by her daughter.

Mrs Trollope with Prime Minister Boris Johnson
Mrs Trollope with Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Family handout/PA)

His wife of 46 years Ava said: “He was dedicated to the trust, and as a family we are grateful for and appreciative of all of the kind words and messages we have seen and received.”

Brian Darlington was a porter for Mid Cheshire Hospitals (Mid Cheshire Hospitals Foundation Trust/PA)
Brian Darlington was a porter for Mid Cheshire Hospitals (Mid Cheshire Hospitals Foundation Trust/PA)

Aged 52, the trauma and orthopaedics nurse at Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital in Worcestershire, died at home while self-isolating with symptoms on April 10.

– Amor Gatinao, nurse

The nurse is reported to have died on the morning of April 10, having worked at St Charles Hospital, west London.

– Aimee O’Rourke, nurse

Aged 39, the nurse and mother died at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQMH) in Margate, Kent, where she worked, on April 9.

– Dr Abdul Mabud Chowdhury, consultant urologist

The 53-year-old wrote a Facebook post asking Prime Minister Boris Johnson to urgently provide every NHS worker with personal protective equipment just five days before he died on the night of April 8.

Doctor Abdul Mabud Chowdhury
Doctor Abdul Mabud Chowdhury (Golam Rahat Khan)

The 62-year-old worked as a locum registrar in the emergency department of Great Western Hospital in Swindon, Wiltshire, and died “doing a job he loved” on April 8.

– Fayez Ayache, GP

Dr Fayez Ayache
Dr Fayez Ayache, who died at Ipswich Hospital on April 8 (East Anglian Daily Times/PA)

– Elsie Sazuze, care home nurse

Mrs Sazuze, who worked for Wolverhampton-based agency Totallycare, died on April 7 at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, according to the BBC, who spoke with her husband Ken.

– Leilani Dayrit, nurse

Leilani Dayrit
Leilani Dayrit, a nurse at St Cross Hospital in Rugby (Handout/PA)

– Donald Suelto, nurse

The 51-year-old, who worked at Hammersmith Hospital in west London, died on April 7 after going into self-isolation with coronavirus symptoms.

– Alice Kit Tak Ong, nurse

The 70-year-old, originally from Hong Kong, died on April 7 after 44 years of working for the NHS. She was described by her daughter Melissa as “generous to everyone else before herself”.

Alice Ong with her daughter Melissa, who is now 36
Alice Ong with her daughter Melissa (Courtesy of Melissa Ong)

The 58-year-old healthcare support worker from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) became the first nurse in Scotland to die as a result of the coronavirus pandemic on April 6.

– Syed Haider, GP

The family doctor worked in Dagenham, east London, and died in hospital on April 6 after it is believed he developed coronavirus symptoms.

– Barbara Moore, patient discharge planner

Barbara Moore, 54, a patient discharge planner at Aintree University Hospital
Barbara Moore, 54, a patient discharge planner at Aintree University Hospital (Liverpool University Hospitals/PA)

– Dr Alfa Saadu, doctor

The 68-year-old, who had returned to work from retirement, died on April 6 at the Whittington Hospital in north London.

– Jitendra Rathod, surgeon

A “highly regarded” associate specialist in cardiothoracic surgery at the University Hospital of Wales, Mr Rathod died on the morning of April 6.

Jitendra Rathod, a surgeon who died in Cardiff after testing positive for Covid-19
Jitendra Rathod, a surgeon who died in Cardiff after testing positive for Covid-19 (Cardiff and Vale University Health Board)

Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex, announced the death of the 54-year-old – the first involving a serving NHS midwife after testing positive for the virus – on April 5.

– Emily Perugia, care worker

A care co-ordinator in Hillingdon, north-west London, Ms Perugia was aged just 29 at the time of her death, which was confirmed on April 5.

She was described by a colleague as a “lovely woman, who never said no to any requests”. Her mother, sister, brother and fiance all work for the same NHS trust she represented.

– Glen Corbin, nurse

The 59-year-old had worked at the Park Royal Centre for Mental Health in Harlesden, north-west London, for more than 25 years and his Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust announced his death on April 4.

– Rebecca Mack, nurse

Rebecca Mack (left), 29, with friend Sarah Bredin-Kemp
Rebecca Mack, left, 29, with friend Sarah Bredin-Kemp (Sarah Bredin Kemp/PA)

– Liz Glanister, nurse

Staff nurse Liz Glanister
Staff nurse Liz Glanister (Family handout/PA)

– Dr Anton Sebastianpillai, consultant

Consultant geriatrician Anton Sebastianpillai
Consultant geriatrician Anton Sebastianpillai (Handout/PA)

– John Alagos, nurse

The Mail On Sunday reported that the 27-year-old nurse, who treated coronavirus patients at Watford General Hospital, died after a shift on April 3.

– Areema Nasreen, nurse

Aged 36, Ms Nasreen died on April 2 in intensive care at Walsall Manor Hospital in the West Midlands – where she had worked for 16 years.

– Sami Shousha, researcher

The professor, 79, who had worked at UK cancer research laboratories at London’s Hammersmith and Charing Cross hospitals since 1978, died on April 2.

– Thomas Harvey, nurse

Thomas Harvey
Thomas Harvey’s family said the Government had questions to answer over the lack of PPE for NHS staff (Handout/PA)

– Dr Amged El-Hawrani, consultant

Amged El-Hawrani
Amged El-Hawrani, was the first frontline NHS hospital worker to die after testing positive for coronavirus, according to NHS England (University Hospitals Derby and Burton)

– Pooja Sharma, pharmacist

Pharmacist Pooja Sharma
Pharmacist Pooja Sharma (East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust/PA)

– Dr Habib Zaidi, doctor

Dr Habib Zaidi
Dr Habib Zaidi, 76, was a GP in Leigh-on-Sea for more than 47 years (NHS Southend/PA)

– Dr Adil El Tayar, transplant surgeon

The 63-year-old died at West Middlesex University Hospital in Isleworth, west London, on March 25, working as a locum surgeon before his death.

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