Farewell to hospital hero, medics join hundreds in streets for salute to porter
NHS staff formed a guard of honour yesterday as the funeral cortege of a beloved porter passed the hospital where he worked for 20 years.
Mike Brown, who died from coronavirus last month at the age of 61, was clapped by his colleagues, many of whom were in tears.
Paula Head, chief executive of University Hospital Southampton, led the applause as hundreds lined the streets.
She said: “Mike was known for his cheeky sense of humour and the fact he always wore shorts. He was also prepared to test out new restaurants and pubs and come back and report to the team. Our thoughts are with Mike’s partner Sandy and his family.” His brother Jeff said Mike was a “lovable guy who had time for anyone”.
The funeral took place as it was revealed 346 healthcare heroes have died from the virus.
The latest victims include Hull Royal Infirmary’s records administrator Adrian Cruttenden, 47, who died on Wednesday after contracting Covid-19 and suffering a stroke.
Chris Long, CEO of Hull University Teaching Hospitals Trust, said: “His loss will be felt deeply by everyone who knew him.”
Tributes were also paid to Vivian Chikwan Ng, 28, a nurse from Middleton, Greater Manchester, who specialised in taking blood tests. The mum, who had a fouryear-old daughter, died on Wednesday, less than a week after falling ill.
She was on kidney dialysis and was due to have a transplant from her partner Tony Sheridan.
Her father Simon said: “She put everyone in front of herself, even when not well. She loved her job.”
Dr Abdorreza Sedghi, a trainee GP at Lister Hospital in Stevenage, died on Wednesday night at the Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge. Nick Carver, head of East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, said: “Abdy was an Iranian GP who came to the UK to pursue a career in general practice.
“He made a big impact with his charisma and personality.”
Other victims include nurse Sylvia Tideswell, 60, who worked at the Royal Stoke University Hospital since 2003; Victor Dinoo, a nurse at University Hospitals Birmingham; nurse Dominga David, 62, and theatre assistant Allan Macalalad, 44, both from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board; and domestic assistant Castor Pablo Apostol, who worked at a care home in Hammersmith, London.