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Newly qualified nurse dies from COVID-19 before getting to start in new role

Father of four Oronsaye Okhomina, who had been a support worker, was in a coma when NMC registration came through
Picture of Oronsaye Okhomina, who was in a coma when NMC registration came through

Father of four Oronsaye Okhomina, who had been a support worker, was in a coma when NMC registration came through

Picture of Oronsaye Okhomina, who was in a coma when NMC registration came through
Oronsaye Okhomina had been due to begin a new role at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

A newly qualified mental health nurse has died from COVID-19 before being able to start work in the role.

Oronsaye Okhomina died on 11 February after contracting the virus in January and being put into an induced coma at North Manchester General Hospital.

A colleague ‘always willing to help others’

After a career in IT and almost ten years working at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) as a mental health support worker and then nursing student, the father of four took his final examinations to become a registered mental health nurse in December.

Mr Okhomina was waiting to start work as a newly qualified nurse at the trust, but he was in a coma when the final results of his exams and his Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) PIN were released in January.

Trust chief executive Neil Thwaite said: ‘On behalf of the trust I would like to express our sincere sadness on hearing of the recent death of Oronsaye, who was known to his colleagues as Ron.

‘We pass on our condolences to his family and friends, and all those who cared for him. Ron was a valued member of the GMMH family, having worked at the trust for many years, most recently as an aspirant nurse and member of the NHS Professionals team.

‘We are extremely proud of Ron’s progression, and we were looking forward to welcoming him back as a qualified nurse. Ron was always willing to help others and made positive relationships with both staff and patients.'

Had looked forward to being a qualified nurse

Mr Okhomina’s wife Esther said: ‘If there was one thing Oronsaye looked forward to it was the day he could start working as a qualified nurse.’

Born in Benin City, Nigeria, Mr Okhomina moved to the Netherlands in 1990 before arriving in the UK in 2005.

A fundraising page has been set up to help Mr Okhomina’s family with immediate and ongoing financial support.


Find out more

Fundraising page for Oronsaye Okhomina


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