‘Exceptional’ NHS nurse and mum, 53, who fostered more than 20 kids dies after coronavirus battle
AN "exceptional" NHS nurse who fostered more than 20 children in her lifetime has died after testing positive for coronavirus.
Julie Penfold, 53, is one of more than 100 NHS workers who have now died from the deadly bug.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
Julie had worked at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Trust in Merseyside, but had been on an 18 month career break due to health issues, before she died.
She had two daughters, one son, an adopted daughter and 11 grandchildren and was due to celebrate her 25th wedding anniversary this year.
Paying tribute, her husband Nick said: "She loved her job. When she was at school, all she ever talked about was being a nurse."
"As a mentor she loved training the younger ones and supported a lot of doctors. She was really well-loved.
'EXCEPTIONAL WOMAN'
"I was really proud of her. She was an exceptional woman."
The health trust which Julie worked for confirmed the caring nurse was a patient at Arrowe Park Hospital when she died with underlying health conditions.
She joined Arrowe Park Hospital as healthcare assistant in 2003, before doing her nurse training and becoming a mentor to trainee nurses and doctors.
Janelle Holmes, chief executive of Wirral University Teaching Hospital, said: "Truly devastating... to lose a member of our own team.
"She was a valued member of staff who cared so much about others."
A book of condolence is being set up in Arrowe Park's chapel and a minute's silence is being planned in Julie's memory.
FALLEN HEROES
Julie joins more than 100 hero medics who have now died from covid-19.
The figures come from Nursing Notes, a platform run and checked by nurses, although the Government claims the figures are far lower.
Emergency consultant and dad-of-three Manjeet Singh Riyat, was among the latest deaths - described by his colleagues at the Royal Derby Hospital as "the father of the current emergency department".
Dad-of-three Abdul Gellaledin, 53, an ambulance care assistant, died after 11 days on a ventilator at Kingston Hospital.
He died on April 9 after contracting the deadly virus from one of the patients he ferried to and from hospital without personal protective equipment.
It was announced yesterday that Dr Craig Wakeham, a GP in Dorset, died after contracting Covid-19.
Most read in
He was joined by orthopaedic surgeon Sadeq Elhowsh, 58 - a father of four who had worked for St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in Merseyside for 17 years, before dying at Whiston Hospital after testing positive for coronavirus.
At the same time, the Department of Health announced a further 823 coronavirus deaths across the UK.
It brings the grim death tally in Britain to 17,337.
Give now to The Sun's NHS appeal
BRITAIN’s four million NHS staff are on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus.
But while they are helping save lives, who is there to help them?
The Sun has launched an appeal to raise £1MILLION for NHS workers.
The Who Cares Wins Appeal aims to get vital support to staff in their hour of need.
We have teamed up with NHS Charities Together in their urgent Covid-19 Appeal to ensure the money gets to exactly who needs it.
The Sun is donating £50,000 and we would like YOU to help us raise a million pounds, to help THEM.
No matter how little you can spare, please donate today here
www.
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS - STAY IN THE KNOW
Don't miss the latest news and figures - and essential advice for you and your family.
To receive The Sun's Coronavirus newsletter in your inbox every tea time, .
To follow us on Facebook, simply .
Get Britain's best-selling newspaper delivered to your smartphone or tablet each day - .
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.