Health heroes death toll hits 335
A TOTAL of 335 healthcare heroes have now died from Covid-19, as the PM revealed yesterday more than 130 care workers were among those who had lost their lives.
Four weeks ago Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons a total of 15 social care workers had died from coronavirus.
By yesterday morning it was thought that 26 care workers and 204 NHS staff had died battling Covid-19.
But hours later at Prime Minister’s Questions, Boris Johnson revealed that 131 care workers had in fact died.
The news emerged as health chief Stephen Powis claimed Britain’s coronavirus trend was “consistently downwards” after a further 363 deaths.
The latest daily figure meant a total of 35,704 people have now died from the virus.
Professor Powis, medical director at NHS England, said: “It is with great sadness that we report these deaths.”
But he added: “The trend is consistently downwards – and that will continue to fall as long as we comply with the instructions we have been giving.” Healthcare professionals who have lost their lives include Neil Ruch, the first paramedic from the East of England Ambulance Service to die from Covid. The “fantastic” paramedic from Canvey Island, Essex, had been on a ventilator for several weeks at Basildon Hospital but died on Monday. Father-of-four Carlos Sia, 62, who worked for the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, died on May 15 in the hospital where he worked.
The “much-loved” father-offour is the 24th Filipino to die.
Paul Nutt, 60, was in the patient transport team at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, Berks, but died last Friday after three weeks in intensive care.
Care worker Evelyn Nicolas – who worked at the Maypole Grove Care Home in Kings Heath, Birmingham – has also died. In tribute to her mother, Chrystalla Nicolas said: “She used to care for anyone as if they were her own.”