Three more hero NHS workers who fought on the frontline to help battle the coronavirus crisis have died of the illness.
A retired theatre assistant, a healthcare worker and a long-serving porter are the latest tragic losses, with 48 NHS staff members having now lost their lives to the illness.
It comes after council bosses urged the government to reveal how it is monitoring the rate of black, Asian and minority ethnic people (BAME) who are contracting the disease.
The Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre found last week that 34 per cent of critically ill patients from the virus were from BAME backgrounds.
Today it was revealed that 57-year-old Andy Trebly who returned to the frontline during the crisis has now died of coronavirus after a battle in intensive care.
The death of ‘diligent and compassionate’ healthcare assistant Lourdes Campbell, who worked for Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, was also announced, as well as that of long-serving porter Brian Darlington who worked for Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Andy Treble (pictured, left, in PPE and, right, with his 17-year-old, Emily) has died after coming out of retirement to fight the virus
Healthcare assistant Lourdes Campbell (pictured above) died from the coronavirus
Family and colleagues today paid tribute to Andy after his death yesterday. The Betsi Cadwaladr University Heath Board said: ‘It is with profound sadness that we can confirm that Andy Treble, a theatre assistant at Wrexham Maelor Hospital,has passed away. Andy sadly died on the critical care unit on Wednesday.’
Long-serving porter Brian Darlington who worked for Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has also died from the virus
Mr Treble had worked at the hospital in north Wales for almost 40 years and was well-loved by his colleagues.
His sister, Maria Molloy, described her brother as a kind man who dedicated his life to his profession, and ‘always had a smile on his face.’
She said: ‘Andy absolutely loved working at the Maelor, his colleagues were his other family.
‘He had a very kind nature and always put everyone else before himself. He was always laughing and smiling, he was such a good man.
‘We are devastated by his loss but would like to thank the critical care team who did their very best for Andy and above all were there for him at the very end. We will be forever grateful to them.’
His 17-year-old daughter, Emily Treble, also expressed her sadness and said her father would be deeply missed.
Mr Treble (pictured) is the 44th NHS worker to have died in the battle against the coronavirus
She said: ‘He was such a lovely man, I’m proud to call him my father. He’s helped me through so much and he has always been there for me.
‘He always cheered me up by watching Laurel and Hardy together. He was so kind, so loving and he will be missed forever.’
Mr Treble leaves behind three other sisters – Caroline, Pauline and Linda.
It comes as:
- Professor Neil Ferguson insisted schools and more shops should not be open until everyone with symptoms, and everyone they have come into contact with, can been screened
- Dominic Raab is set to confirm that lockdown will stay in place until at least mid-May after a Cobra emergency committee meeting this afternoon
- A report sent to ministers has suggested coffee shops, restaurants and estate agents should be among the first to reopen on Britain’s high streets
- In a round of broadcast interviews, Mr Hancock insisted it was ‘too early’ for an exit strategy from the lockdown
- Mr Hancock defended the government’s handling of testing, despite it already having missed a target of carrying out 25,000 tests a day by mid-April
- Health Secretary repeated his promise that the Government will be carrying out 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month
David Bevan, theatre manager at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, said: ‘Andy was a well-loved colleague and friend to us all. His loss has left a hole in his theatre family and he will be sadly missed by everyone.
‘Andy was a hardworking, caring and compassionate member of our team with a wonderful sense of humour that touched us all.’
Imran Devji, Wrexham Maelor Hospital’s managing director, added: ‘On behalf of the staff at the hospital, and across the wider Health Board, I would like to extend our sincere condolences to Andy’s family. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.
‘Andy was a valued member of the team and was very well-liked amongst his colleagues.
Graph shows the UK’s average daily coronavirus deaths for the previous seven days, based on official figures. The dip at the end shows the numbers falling for two days – the first drop since the crisis began. Although it could be a sign of numbers plateauing, Chris Whitty yesterday said he expected a rise in deaths today as officials catch up with a lag in reporting over Easter
‘We are deeply saddened at the passing of a much loved member of staff. He will be truly missed by us all.’
In a joint statement, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s chief executive Simon Dean and chairman Mark Polin, said : ‘We offer our deepest condolences to Andy’s family, friends and colleagues at this terribly sad time. Every death from COVID-19 is devastating for loved ones, but when it is a colleague, it is all the more poignant.
‘Andy was proud to work for the health service and dedicated his career to caring for others.’
Tributes were also made to Lourdes who died on the critical care unit at Royal Bolton Hospital after contracting the virus.
In a statement published on Thursday, chief executive of the trust Fiona Noden said: ‘It is with deep regret and huge sadness that I share with you the devastating news that we have lost a friend and colleague to the terrible Covid-19 virus.
‘Lourdes Campbell, a healthcare assistant, died a short time ago on our critical care unit.
‘Lourdes, known as Des to her colleagues, has worked with us for nearly 13 years.
‘She was a well-liked and valued member of the team, known for working extremely hard.
‘She was dedicated to patient care and her colleagues respected her quiet, diligent and compassionate approach.
‘This is a terrible and poignant reminder of the situation we are facing every day to help others and I want to thank every member our staff for their continued care for our patients and community.
‘Their continued courage and commitment to duty is inspirational and a comfort to us all in these difficult times.’
In Cheshire tributes were also paid to Brian, who died after testing positive for coronavirus.
Brian worked for Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Leighton Hospital in Crewe, the Victoria Infirmary in Northwich and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford.
He had worked at the trust for more than 20 years and was married to wife Ava for 46 years.
The husband, father and grandfather passed away at Leighton Hospital and had tested positive for coronavirus.
Ava paid a heartfelt tribute to her late husband and issued thanks on behalf of the family for the kind messages which have been paid to Brian.
She said: ‘We were married for 46 years and Brian was a great husband, as well as father and grandfather.
‘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 is fondly remembered by his colleagues in Hotel Services for his sense of humour and positive outlook.
Facilities supervisor Richard Studinski said: ‘Nothing was ever too much trouble for Brian; he worked hard and was happy to do whatever was needed of him.
‘He always walked round the hospital with a smile on his face; passing out sweets to colleagues he’d meet on the corridor.’
The trust’s thoughts are with Brian’s family and friends at this time and sincere condolences have been offered.
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust chief executive James Sumner said: ‘Brian had dedicated over 20 years to the Trust during his NHS career and will be sadly missed by all who knew and worked with him.
‘He was without doubt a treasured member of the team at Mid Cheshire.’
Heavily pregnant NHS nurse, 28, dies of coronavirus as friends and family mourn the deaths of three other brave health workers who have died on the frontline
By Raven Saunt, Tom Pyman and Amie Gorden for the MailOnline and Inderdeep Bains for the Daily Mail
Damning questions are being asked over why a nurse who died from coronavirus was still working well into the final three months of her pregnancy.
Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong’s condition deteriorated rapidly after contracting the virus last week, but desperate to save her baby daughter, she underwent an emergency caesarean.
Tragically, the 28-year-old died just days later on Easter Sunday.
The little girl is understood to be alive but it is not yet clear if she has tested positive for the disease.
Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, said: ‘The death of Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong from Luton and Dunstable Hospital could have been prevented, a child will now grow up without her mother – this tragedy could have been prevented’
However, concerns are being raised after Luton and Dunstable Hospital, where she nursed for five years, confirmed she had been working on ward 12 – which has since become a Covid-19 ward – until March 12 at least and possibly later.
She was eight months pregnant when she died and stopped working at 28 weeks, as permitted in official guidance, which hospital bosses said they followed.
However, it has led to renewed calls for a rethink, with campaigners insisting: ‘All pregnant women shouldn’t be on the frontline.’
Pictured: Father-of-two Dr Peter Tun, who worked as an associate specialist in neurorehabilitation at the Royal Berkshire Hospital for more than 21 years, passed away on Monday
Cheryl Williams (left), who worked as a housekeeper on an elderly patient ward at North Middlesex University Hospital in Edmonton, north London, died on Easter Sunday
Father-of-two Dr Peter Tun, 62, died in the intensive care unit at a hospital in Reading on Monday.
Another victim, Ade Raymond, 48, had been working as a healthcare assistant for the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust before he died.
And Cheryl Williams, who worked as a housekeeper on an elderly patient ward at North Middlesex University Hospital in Edmonton, north London, died on Easter Sunday.
Another victim, Ade Raymond, 48, (pictured) had been working as a healthcare assistant for the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust before he died
Colleagues of Mr Raymond at the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust have also paid tribute following his tragic death
Tributes have since been paid to Dr Tun who had worked as an associate specialist in neurorehabilitation at the Royal Berkshire Hospital for more than 21 years.
In an emotional statement, his children said: ‘Our family is immensely proud of our superhero dad.
‘He used to say, ‘Treat all your patients like they are your own family’, and this speaks to the type of character that he had.
‘To us, he was simply the best human we know and we will miss him every day.’
It comes as a dental nurse was also confirmed to have died after being treated for coronavirus for a month.
Mother-of-one Linnette Cruz, 51, (pictured) was also confirmed to have died after being treated for coronavirus for a month
Mother-of-one Linnette Cruz, 51, was a senior head nurse at a practice in Sketty, Swansea.
Mrs Cruz was admitted to hospital last month after suffering with Covid-19 symptoms but died on April 14.
Dental practice owner Nik Patel paid tribute to her by saying: ‘She brought love, light and joy to everyone around her. She will be sadly missed by all.’