A “dedicated and long-serving” health care assistant who worked at a hospital for more than 30 years has died with Covid-19.
Mother-of-three Linda Parkinson worked on a ward for elderly patients at Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary and was said by her family to be “passionate” about her job.
Her death came as it emerged from official figures, announced by Cumbria Country Council, that the number of deaths in the county from the virus has passed the 1,000 mark.
In a statement issued on Thursday, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust said: “It is with great sadness that we share the news that a much-loved colleague, Linda Parkinson, passed away last week with Covid-19.
“She was a dedicated and long-serving member of our organisation who was valued by her colleagues and the wider organisation, and her loss will be felt greatly by us all.
“Linda was dedicated to her family, she cared for her husband, was mum to three daughters and had three grandchildren.
“She was a devoted sister, aunty and became a proud great nana last year. Her daughters describe her as a proud mum with a heart of gold who was passionate about her role at work.
“Her colleagues describe her as having a sense of loyalty and pride, always having an ear for others. She had high standards and expected the same from others.
“She loved bingo and baking, and came to work for her patients and the companionship of colleagues who she saw as a her second family.”
A further 630 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 74,249, NHS England said on Thursday.
Patients were aged between seven and 102. All except 30, aged between 40 and 99, had known underlying health conditions.
The deaths were between January 4 and February 3, with the majority being on or after 29 January.
There were 42 other deaths reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.
