Family pays tribute to first NHS midwife to die after testing positive for coronavirus

Lynsay Coventry, 54, is the first serving NHS midwife in England whose death has been publicly confirmed, the Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust (PAHT) said.

Colleagues also highlighted Ms Coventry's "professionalism and commitment" throughout her 10 years working at the trust, and the hundreds of women that she supported.

In a statement, Ms Coventry's relatives said: "As a family, our hearts are broken at the loss of our loving, wonderful and caring mum, sister, daughter and grandmother.

"We each know how much she loved and cherished us. Her love for us all was unfailing and her strength in the way she cared and supported us will fill our memories.

"What we also know is how proud she was to be an NHS midwife."

They said Ms Coventry had "followed her dream" to train as a midwife in later life and that it was a role in which she was "very well-respected".

Lance McCarthy, chief executive of the PAHT, paid tribute to Ms Coventry's years of service and said the loss would be felt by colleagues in the maternity team and across the entire organisation.

The chief midwifery officer for England Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent said she had been "deeply moved and saddened" to hear of the death.

"Lynsay was clearly a highly regarded midwife whose dedication to women, babies and their families will be remembered and cherished by her own family and her colleagues," she said.

"My deepest thoughts are with them, her children, grandchildren, parents and siblings."

In the past few weeks, people across the country have taken to their balconies and gardens to applaud the continued efforts of NHS staff and other key workers during the ongoing crisis.

Efforts to organise the mass clapping, the last of which was carried out at 8pm on Thursday night, have been rallied by the hashtags #clapforcarers and #thankyouNHS on social media.

"The outpouring of support for NHS staff as we respond to this outbreak has been extraordinary," said Ms Dunkley-Bent.

"But the best way for people to do their bit for midwives, nurses, doctors and other NHS staff is to help protect us by following the Government's advice to stay at home and save lives."