‘Unsung hero’ NHS worker, 54, dies of coronavirus as killer infection continues claiming lives of brave doctors, nurses and support staff
- Barbara Moore, 54, died on April 6 at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital
- On April 6, staff nurse at Aintree Hospital, Liz Glanister, also died from the virus
- Rebecca Mack died aged 29 and devastated friends have paid tribute to her
- Comes after Alice Kit Tak Ong , who served 44 years with NHS, died today
- Dr Anton Sebastianpillai is the thirteenth frontline medic to die from the virus
An NHS worker who ‘dedicated her life to caring for others’ has died after contracting Covid-19.
Barbara Moore, 54, who worked as a patient discharge planner at Aintree University Hospital, died on April 6 at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital after testing positive for coronavirus.
Described as an ‘unsung hero’, the mother-of-two and grandmother, who ‘loved nothing more than spending precious time with her family’, is now the second member of staff to die from coronavirus at Aintree Hospital.
In a statement, Mrs Moore’s family said: ‘Barbara was a much loved wife, mum, nan, sister, aunty, friend and beautiful person.
‘Barbara dedicated her life to caring for others and doted on her two beautiful children and grandchildren.
NHS worker Barbara Moore, 54, who ‘dedicated her life to caring for others’, died on April 6 at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital after testing positive for coronavirus
‘She loved nothing more than spending precious time with her family. Barbara will be sadly missed by so many.’
A spokesman for Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which is in charge of Aintree Hospital, said: ‘It is with incredible sadness that the trust have today confirmed the death of one of their members of staff, Barbara Moore, aged 54, who had tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19).
‘Barbara, a patient discharge planner at Aintree University Hospital, passed away on Monday, 6 April, at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
‘Barbara had joined the hospital team after spending most of her career as a care worker for people with disabilities.’
While chief nurse Dianne Brown said: ‘Barbara’s loss is an awful blow to us all, and she will be missed so much by all of her colleagues.
‘I have offered our sincere condolences and our support to her family at this time of their sad loss. Barbara was a patient discharge planner, which is one of our unsung hero roles.
‘Barbara’s dedication to helping patients get safely out of hospital meant that people returned to their loved ones as soon and as simply as possible.She will be terribly missed.’
Mrs Moore, who was described as an ‘unsung hero’, worked as a patient discharge planner at Aintree University Hospital (pictured)
On April 6, Aintree University Hospital confirmed that they had lost long-serving staff nurse Liz Glanister (centre), 68, after she contracted Covid-19
The hospital said Mrs Moore, who was responsible for making arrangements to allow patients to safely leave hospital, joined the hospital team after spending most of her career as a care worker for people with disabilities.
Just days earlier, on April 6, the hospital confirmed that they had lost long-serving staff nurse Liz Glanister, 68, who died after contracting coronavirus.
In a statement on social media Ms Brown said: ‘All our thoughts are with Liz’s family at this time and we offer them our sincere condolences. Liz will be sadly missed by all those who knew and worked with her.
‘I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to Liz for her dedication to her patients, colleagues and friends over many years.’
At Liverpool Town Hall, St George’s Hall and The Cunard Building the Union flag was flown at half mast in honour of Ms Glanister.
The tragic deaths come as the coronavirus crisis continues to claim the lives of brave doctors, nurses and support staff helping fight the pandemic on the frontline.
Today, tributes poured in for a child cancer nurse Rebecca Mack, 29, who once worked at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.
Her heartbroken best friend, Sarah Bredin-Kemp, revealed her sorrow in a touching Facebook post about the medic, who most recently worked as a 111 operator
She wrote: ‘Becca was one of the best friends I’ve ever had. She was a devoted friend, an incredible nurse and a unapologetically imperfect person: She was the most accident-prone, stubborn, chatterbox with a bizarre catchphrase and inappropriate joke for every occasion.
Rebecca Mack (pictured) died aged 29 after contracting coronavirus, her friends said today
Tributes have poured in for Rebecca Mack (pictured), a child cancer nurse from Newcastle who’s died from coronavirus
Rebecca (pictured left), who most recently worked as a 111 operator, has been praised by friends on social media
‘Her iconic love of leopard print and statement earrings was rivaled only by Pat Butcher herself.
‘She would never take ‘I’m busy, I’m not coming to the pub’ as an answer. She was useless at hiding her emotions: she would just describe things she didn’t like as as ‘interesting’ or ‘alternative’, with an expression of pure loathing.
‘She was a high maintenance, foot-in-mouth oversharer with a love of cheesy music, crappy tv and an inexplicable hatred of small animals.
‘But she would be the first in line to tell you off when you were doubting yourself.
‘She was honest, warm and charismatic. She worked hard and made her family proud every single day.’
Rebecca’s colleague, Jamie Young, added: ‘Today, the NHS lost an absolutely amazing and beautiful nurse, myself and my colleagues lost the most tremendous clinician. At the age of just 29, she had her entire life ahead of her.’
Cheryl Murphy said: ‘Tonight we light a candle for a kind caring nurse who sadly lost her life to covid-19 just starting her life getting ready to buy her first home always smiling rest in paradise and if any one can learn something from this please stay at home and stay safe keep your babies home!’
Keith Cowell, from Newcastle, told The Sun how Rebecca cared for his daughter Sarah when she was 13. Sarah has been in remission for three years following chemotherapy.
Mr Cowell said: ‘Becca was a lovely girl always full of smiles and fun during a scary time for the kids having treatment. It’s so scary when it is someone you know. Heaven has just gained a real angel.’
Friends and family of Rebecca (pictured) shared their tributes to her on social media
Another wrote on Twitter: ‘Becca was a specialist nurse who cared for my daughter at the RVI Hospital on the children’s cancer ward. A life taken far too soon and that of a selfless person dedicated to others. RIP Becca.’
Cousin Chrissy Mack said on social media: ‘So so nice to see so many people saying such lovely things about my cousin.
‘The next NHS doorstep clap will certainly have extra meaning to me, these people are literally heroes. Rest In Peace Becca’
NHS nurse Alice Kit Tak Ong died from the coronavirus two weeks after being admitted to hospital
Rebecca’s colleague, Lauren Callender, added: ‘Sleep tight hunnie Rebecca Mack you truly were an amazing girl and will be missed by many!
‘You could light up a room, so bubbly and caring, honoured to have worked along side you at 111, devastated beyond words.’
It comes after a ‘completely dedicated’ 70-year-old nurse who served the NHS for 44 years also died from the coronavirus.
Alice Kit Tak Ong, 70, died from the virus on Tuesday morning, two weeks after being admitted to the Royal Free hospital in London.
Her family have since said she was ‘dedicated’ to her work and continued to work until the moment she fell ill.
Meanwhile a doctor caring for patients with the coronavirus also died of the deadly disease after being admitted to intensive care just days before his death.
Dr Anton Sebastianpillai became the thirteenth frontline medic to die from the virus on Saturday.
Dr Anton Sebastianpillai became the thirteenth frontline medic to die from the virus on Saturday
The consultant geriatrician died at Kingston Hospital in South West London after he was admitted to its intensive care unit on March 31.
In a statement, a spokesman for the hospital said Dr Anton had completed his last shift with the hospital on March 20.
‘It is with great sadness that I confirm the death of a consultant geriatrician who was part of the team…Dr Anton Sebastianpillai died on Saturday 4 April 2020 having been cared for in the hospital’s intensive care unit since March 31.
‘Dr Sebastianpillai completed his last shift with us on March 20 and we would like to extend our sincere condolences to his family.’
The Peradeniya Medical School Alumni Association of the United Kingdom said the doctor had retired from his career and had volunteered to work with Covid-19 patients.
Dr Anton Sebastianpillai died on Saturday at Kingston Hospital in South West London on Saturday
London has been the worst hit are of the UK, with 1,353 deaths and over 11,000 cases.
Speaking to The Guardian, Ms Ong’s daughter said her mother had spent her life helping others. Melissa Ong said her mother ‘loved her job and she loved her patients’.
‘She was completely dedicated to her work, that’s what she was doing until the moment she was taken ill’, she said.
It is believed that she may have contracted the disease while working at a hospital without protective equipment. She had first come to the UK at just 23-year-old to study nursing.
The government and NHS England have been criticised for the lack of protective equipment such as face masks and gloves that have been provided to health care workers battling with the disease.
On April 2, mother-of-three Aimee O’Rourke, 39, passed away at the QEQM Hospital in Margate, Kent, following the surfacing of symptoms two weeks ago.
Aimee O’Rourke, 39, died at the QEQM Hospital in Margate, Kent, following the surfacing of symptoms two weeks ago
Ms O’Rourke had three daughters, Maddie, Mollie and Meghan, who described her mother as an ‘angel’ who will ‘wear [her] NHS crown forever more’
Ms Nasreen (left) with Rubi Aktar (right), a nurse who paid tribute to her ‘best friend’, who she described as the ‘most loveliest, genuine person you could ever meet’
Dr Habib Zaidi, 76, (pictured) fell ill on Tuesday and died in intensive care at Southend Hospital in Essex on Wednesday
Dr Adil El Tayar, 63, (left) died on March 28 after contracting the virus at the Hereford County Hospital and Dr Amged El-Hawrani, 55, (right) an ear nose and throat (ENT) specialist at Queen’s Hospital Burton, died on March 29
Nurse Thomas Harvey, 57, picked up coronavirus when treating a patient in London and died of the virus
Dr Alfa Saadu, 68, died on Tuesday after working at Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
Just hours later, Areema Nasreen, 36, died shortly after midnight in intensive care at Walsall Manor Hospital, West Midlands, were she had worked.
Ms Nasreen, 36, died shortly after midnight in intensive care at Walsall Manor Hospital, West Midlands, were she had worked.
The NHS employee of 16 years, who started in housekeeping before training as a nurse, was diagnosed with the infection in late March after developing a soaring temperature, body aches and a cough.
Dr Habib Zaidi, 76, became ill and died in intensive care on March 25 at Southend Hospital in Essex on Wednesday
Dr Adil El Tayar, 63, died on March 28 after contracting the virus at the Hereford County Hospital.
Dr Amged El-Hawrani, 55, an ear nose and throat (ENT) specialist at Queen’s Hospital Burton, died on March 29.
Nurse Thomas Harvey, 57, of Goodmayes Hospital, London, died on Sunday after contracting the virus.
Dr Alfa Saadu, 68, died on Tuesday after working at Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
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