Outpouring of love for NHS nurse who died from Covid-19
SARA TROLLOPE WAS JUST MONTHS FROM RETIREMENT AFTER WORKING FOR HEALTH SERVICE FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS
EMOTIONAL tributes have been paid to a ‘wonderful’ and ‘highly regarded’ nurse who worked at Hillingdon Hospital.
Sara Trollope, 51, died at Watford General Hospital on Friday (April 10) after testing positive for Covid-19 a week earlier.
The mum-of-four, who had worked for the NHS for more than 30 years and was just months from retirement, had most recently worked as a matron for older adult mental health services at Hillingdon Hospital.
Central and North West London (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, confirmed Mrs Trollope had died in a statement on Saturday April 11.
A spokesperson said: “We sadly tell you of the death of Sara Trollope, a well-respected and long-standing CNWL staff member in Hillingdon. She was matron for older adult mental health services.
“We send our love and support to her husband Gary and her children and to her colleagues.
“Sara worked tirelessly with dedication, commitment and passion for older adult patients, always striving for best care and outcomes. She was highly valued for her empathy and support for carers and patients’ families and her leadership and support of all of her staff.
“Sara had a long and successful career in the NHS and CNWL and was well known and highly regarded across the Trust.
“There has been an outpouring of love for Sara today in response to the terribly sad news.”
Paying tribute, 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.”
Last year, Prime Minister Boris Johnson posed with Mrs Trollope during a visit to the Riverside Centre in Hillingdon.
Mr Johnson posted the snap on his personal website last April. He wrote: “It was really inspiring to meet with these committed teams who do such fantastic work providing a safe and therapeutic supportive environment for those that need it.”
A Gofundme page has been set up by one of Mrs Trollope’s friends in the hope of raising money for her devastated family.
So far, more than £10,000 has been raised.
The Gofundme page reads: “This wonderful woman only ever wanted to become a nurse, she fulfilled this desire and worked hard, gaining her promotions to eventually become a Matron at Hillingdon Hospital, she was in fact in her last year of nursing before retiring.
“Sara cared very much about her patients and staff and completely loved her job.
“Sadly it was this job that cost her, her life. She fought this bravely for seven days until it became to much for her and she passed peacefully.
“Sara was a mother, she was a devoted wife and cared for her husband Gary after he suffered life changing injuries whilst serving in the Army which meant he is unable to return to work.
“We would like to raise some money for the family to help them to be able to grieve and not have added financial worries.
“Sara leaves behind not just her loving husband Gary but her children and grandchildren. Her youngest child being just 18.
“These people are not just neighbours to us but very dear friends and a beautiful kind caring family that have given their all for this country.
“Anything that you can donate would be gratefully appreciated and will help this family. I know we are all in difficult times at the moment but if you can spare anything it will help this family.”
Mrs Trollope, from Watford, is one of more than 30 health workers to die from the disease.
As of Saturday April 11, 9,875 people in the UK have lost their lives to Covid-19. In London, 2,577 who tested positive for coronavirus have died.
On Saturday morning, Health Secretary Matt Hancock paid tribute to the health workers who had died.
The Gofundme page can be found at www.gofundme.com/f/rip-saradee-trollope-nhs-nurse