HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to a ‘dedicated and highly experienced’ nurse at the Worcestershire Royal who has died of suspected coronavirus.
Jodon Gait, aged 46, worked in care homes for 15 years before joining the Medical Short Stay unit at Worcestershire Royal Hospital a year ago, the trust said.
The much-loved member of staff, who had been self-isolating at home after developing symptoms of the virus, died on Saturday, April 25, according to Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
Mr Gait is among more than 100 NHS staff to have lost their lives to the virus during the coronavirus pandemic.
Malvern-based nurse Julie Omar, 52, who worked at Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital, died while self-isolating at home on April 10.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said 82 health workers and 16 care workers have died from Covid-19, however it is likely the death toll of those on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19 is much higher.
In a statement, trust chief executive Matthew Hopkins said: “It is with great sorrow I have to share the sad news that a much-loved member of our nursing team – Jodon Gait – has died.
“Colleagues who worked most closely with him describe Jodon as a dedicated, passionate, caring colleague.
“A quirky character who always put patients at the centre of everything he did, delivering fantastic quality of care to his patients and who had a great sense of humour who will be massively missed by all of the team,” Mr Hopkins said.
Mr Godot’s death was confirmed yesterday, Tuesday, April 27 on the day a minute’s silence was held to remember frontline NHS and other key workers who have lost their lives to coronavirus.
It comes following a campaign by unions, the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Nursing.
Trust chiefs yesterday confirmed a further eight people had died from coronavirus at its hospitals, meaning 185 county patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 have now passed away.
The patients whose deaths have been announced so far were aged between 41 and 100 years old.
