Staff at Newcastle Hospitals received a resounding show of appreciation from fellow emergency workers.
Northumbria Police and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue joined the Clap for Carers at 8pm (Thursday 9 April) at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle with a touching tribute with cars and trucks displaying their blue lights.
They joined the local community and the rest of the country in showing their gratitude to NHS staff who are working around the clock to look after COVOD-19 patients and to keep the hospitals and community services running.
Chief Inspector Steve Wykes, of Northumbria Police, said: “These are unprecedented times for all of us but we have been blown away by the community spirit on show.
“Everyone has come together to respect the Government stay-at-home guidance so we can protect our key workers and save lives.
“We have joined residents across our region, and the entire nation, in applauding NHS staff and it shows how much we all appreciate what they do.
“Everyone at Northumbria Police is incredibly proud of their efforts and we will continue to our bit to keep you safe.”
All NHS staff from doctors and nurses on the front-line of COVID-19, to colleagues across a whole range of services and departments including IT, cleaning, catering, estates, porters, pharmacy, administrative services, community nurses and domiciliary services are working tirelessly to support the Coronavirus response.
Dame Jackie Daniel, Chief Executive of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Many of our staff have already been touched on a personal and professional level by the impact of the coronavirus – whether we’re caring for patients or their families, supporting the frontline or in our own home lives.
“Our NHS colleagues are making sacrifices every day for which we are extremely thankful.
Gestures like this from the police and the local community let our staff know how appreciated they are by all of us, and that they are in people’s thoughts. We are so grateful to the public who continue to send their thanks and good wishes and to the police, and the fire and rescue service for this thoughtful show of solidarity.”
