Healthcare support worker who brought ‘rays of happiness’ to patients dies of COVID-19

‘Caring, kind and well-respected’ Helen Mills died after contracting COVID-19

Colleagues have paid tribute to a ‘caring, kind and well-respected’ healthcare support worker who died after testing positive for COVID-19.

‘The memories of Helen will never be forgotten’

Swansea Bay University Health Board said Helen Mills, who worked in the minor injury unit at Neath Port Talbot Hospital in south Wales, provided ‘much happiness and laughter’ to her colleagues.

A statement released by the health board said Ms Mills had worked as a healthcare support worker in the unit since 2008.

‘Although her loss has brought great sadness to us, the memories of Helen will never be forgotten,’ the statement read.

‘We will always be grateful for the significant contribution she made and for the rays of happiness she brought to fellow staff and patients.

‘Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband Chris, daughters Kaylie and Kate, and her grandchildren, at this difficult time.’

RCN calls for urgent investigation into death rate among nursing staff

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics in late January show that more than 250 nurses and healthcare assistants have died of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

• RELATED: COVID-19: remembering the nursing staff who have lost their lives

RCN general secretary Dame Donna Kinnair has called for an urgent investigation into the higher death rate among nursing staff.

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