HEARTBREAK FOR HEROES
TRIBUTES PAID TO TWO NHS WORKERS WHO HAVE DIED AFTER TESTING POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS AS UK DEATH TOLL PASSES 10,000
TRIBUTES have been paid to two Welsh NHS workers who died after testing positive for coronavirus, as the total number of deaths across the country rose to 369.
Gareth Roberts, who worked as a bank nurse for the Cardiff and Vale Health Board, and Velindre Cancer Centre healthcare support worker Donna Campbell died after contracting Covid-19.
Paying tribute to Mr Roberts, a nurse since the 1980s, colleagues at the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: “Gareth was well known by everyone and was extremely popular, funfilled and well-liked person, always greeting everyone with, ‘Hello Cariad’ when he saw them.
“He had a lovely way with relatives and always offered the caring personal side, he was very much an ‘old school’ nurse.”
Mr Roberts, who is survived by his wife, son and grandson, died at the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil.
Tributes were also paid to Ms Campbell, with colleagues saying they were “completely heartbroken that their beautiful, kind-hearted friend and colleague has died”.
Ms Campbell passed away at the University Hospital Wales in Cardiff on Friday.
“She was without doubt a treasured member of our work family who could light up a room with her infectious laugh and bubbly personality, but at the same time she had the most wonderful ability to comfort and care for people,” a statement said.
Patients and their families often commented on how her “warm and genuine nature” made them feel comforted and loved even at the most difficult of times, they said.
“She was often found singing and dancing, entertaining patients and staff, making everyone smile,” they said.
“Donna will always have a special place in our hearts and we will all want to send our heartfelt sympathy and love to her family at this very difficult time.”
Steve Ham, chief executive of Velindre University NHS Trust, added: “We are devastated to have lost a member of the Velindre family.
“We will always remember her as a dedicated, hard-working member of our nursing team who was proud to work for the NHS.
“First and foremost, we want to extend our deepest condolences to Donna’s family and friends.”
On Saturday England’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock said 19 NHS staff had died after contracting coronavirus, though that number is likely to have increased. The Department of Health and Social Care was last night yet to confirm whether the staff Mr Hancock was referring to were from NHS England or across the UK.
Public Health Wales reported yesterday that a further 18 people with coronavirus had died in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths to 369.
Public Health Wales said a further 367 people had tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 5,297.
Dr Giri Shankar, from Public Health Wales, said: “367 new cases have tested positive for Covid-19 in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 5,297, although the true number of cases is likely to be higher. Eighteen further deaths have been reported to us of people who had tested positive for Covid-19, taking the number of deaths in Wales to 369.
“We offer our condolences to families and friends affected.”
Health officials did not provide details of the areas in which people had died, their ages or whether they had underlying health conditions.
Around half of A&E staff at the Royal Gwent Hospital have tested positive for coronavirus, according to a consultant. Dr Tim Rogerson, an A&E consultant at the hospital in Newport, explained that
“around 50% of the consultant workforce in A&E have swabbed positive for coronavirus”, as well as a “similar percent” within the hospital’s nursing team.
The frontline doctor revealed the statistic in a video shared by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board on Saturday, as he revealed that he has tested positive for the virus.
In the video he explained he has been off work since experiencing coronavirus symptoms and that his son has also tested positive for the virus.
Dr Rogerson said: “This has obviously happened despite all of the PPE that we’ve got and all the hand washing that we’re doing but it’s probably just a likely thing that’s going to happen when we’re faced with such numbers of patients coming in with coronavirus.
“We’re probably up to around 50% of the consultant workforce at the Gwent in A&E who have swabbed positive for the coronavirus and a similar percent in our nursing team.
“It is proving a challenge when it’s coming to staffing the department when we are facing these numbers coming through.”
He also urged members of the public to stay indoors over the Easter weekend will impact the hospital’s intensive care unit’s capacity “in two weeks time”, as well as on staff “that are being put at risk and are being exposed to coronavirus”.
Dr Rogerson said he has been off work since April 5 with a fever, aches, sore throat and a lack of a sense of smell.
He said: “I think, talking to other colleagues I have had a mild to moderate set of symptoms. I know some of my colleagues in A&E have been quite sick and been off for a couple of weeks. So, I think that is probably a blessing to get started with, but I am obviously frustrated not to be in work.”
The Aneurin Bevan Health Board has had the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Wales. Latest statistics show that on Saturday it had 1,453 cases, with Cardiff and Vale Health Board at 1,306, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board at 859, Swansea Bay University Health Board at 730, Betsi Cadwaldr University Health Board at 418, Hywel Dda University Health Board at 362 and Powys Teaching Health Board at 75.
Dr Giri Shankar, incident director for the Covid-19 outbreak at Public Health Wales, said: “Public Health Wales is working to address the negative impact of Covid-19 on the social, mental and physical wellbeing of people in Wales. The new ‘How are you doing?’ campaign is now live and offering practical advice from phw.nhs.wales/howareyoudoing.”
In another development, a further £2.8m has been invested by the Welsh Government to extend the roll-out of digital appointments for GP surgeries to community care, outpatients and diabetes clinics.
Patrols of beaches, coastal areas and other public spaces were continuing across Wales over the Easter bank holiday weekend after fears the warm weather could encourage people to ignore the lockdown.
On Friday, First Minister Mark Drakeford said the restrictions could get worse if people flout social distancing rules. In Llanelli, an 18-year-old man was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of causing a public nuisance under the new Covid-19 regulations.
Dyfed-Powys Police said the teenager had previously been issued with five fixed penalty notices for breaching Covd-19 restrictions by driving around in his car.
In the Treboeth area of Swansea, police broke up a street party on Saturday night attended by 23 adults and four children.
Gwent Police broke up a street party in Rother Avenue, Abergavenny.
“There will be time for dancing in the street when this all over,” a force spokesman said.
“It was also disappointing the level of abuse attending officers received of a handful of residents. We are trying to protect you, not ruin your fun.”
A driver was stopped on a 600-mile round trip from Scotland to Wales to collect a “bargain” second hand BMW car.
And a family from London drove 240 miles to Tywyn, Gwynedd, in a rental car – and were sent back home with a £60 fine from police.
The Newtown Roads Policing Unit tweeted: “Two people been to collect this new car. Driven from Scotland to west Wales. Admitted it was non essential but it was a bargain. Tickets issued.”
Another spot check caught the family in the rental car. The force tweeted: “The driver stated they had come from London and wanted to visit Tywyn. Driver issued with a fine and sent back to London.”