People have taken to their gardens, balconies and windows to applaud the efforts of the NHS for a third week running as healthcare workers fight back the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
The clap for our carers campaign has seen people make noise, play instruments and let off fireworks across the country, echoing similar rounds of applause taking place in countries elsewhere including Spain and India.
The latest rousing moment of support for healthcare workers has been accompanied by increasing calls for people to accompany their solidarity with financial support for charities that work to ease the strain on health service staff.
The NHS Charities Together umbrella group, which incorporates 150 NHS charities, has called on people to accompany their claps with cash - and hopes to inspire at least a million people to show their backing for the NHS by texting “clap” along with a message of support and a donation of £5 to 70507.
Meanwhile premier league footballers have also announced their support for the charity network, with players from across the top tier of English football’s 20 teams sharing a joint statement last night in support of the health service.
It comes the day after a doctor who warned the Prime Minister about the lack of personal protective equipment being made available to NHS workers died after contracting the virus.
Consultant urologist Abdul Mabud Chowdhury, 53, died more than two weeks after being taken to hospital on 23 March.
Just five days before being admitted, Dr Chowdhury wrote a Facebook post asking Boris Johnson to urgently provide every NHS worker with PPE.
In the post on 18 March, he wrote: "People appreciate us and salute us for our rewarding job which are very inspirational but I would like to say we have to protect ourselves and our families /kids in this global disaster/crisis by using appropriate PPE and remedies".
Additional reporting by PA.
