Tributes paid to two NHS nurses who died after testing positive for coronavirus

Nurses Areema Nasreen, 36, and Aimee O'Rourke, 39, died this week after contracting Covid-19.

Aimee, who worked at East Kent University Hospitals Foundation Trust, died on Thursday, April 2 at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital.

Areema, who worked at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, died in the early hours of Friday, April 3 at Walsall Manor Hospital.

Richard Beeken, Chief Executive of Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, paid tribute to Areema.

Mr Beeken said: "I would like to pay tribute to Areema Nasreen who sadly passed away in the early hours of this morning.

"Any death is devastating but losing one of our own is beyond words.

“Areema was extremely committed to her role as a Staff Nurse on the Acute Medical Unit at Manor Hospital.

"She was professional, passionate nurse who started at the Trust as a housekeeper in 2003 before working hard to train to gain her nursing qualification in January 2019.

“Her dedication to her role and her popularity amongst her colleagues is obvious to see with the outpouring of grief and concern we are seeing around the organisation and on social media.

"We will do everything that we can in coming days and weeks to support those that need it.

"Her vocation in nursing was clear for all to see and she always said that she was so blessed to have the role of a nurse which she absolutely loved because she wanted to feel like ‘she could want to make a difference’ – and you did, Areema, you will be very sadly missed.

"I would, on behalf of the Trust like to pass our deepest condolences to Areema’s family and loved ones and our thoughts are with them all at this very sad time."

Susan Acott, Chief Executive of East Kent University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has paid tribute to Aimee.

Ms Acott said: "On behalf of the whole Trust I would like to offer our sincere condolences to Aimee’s girls, whom she adored, and to all her family and friends.

"Aimee was a really valuable part of our work family.

"She was a kind and caring nurse and was hugely popular with staff and patients alike.

"We will forever remember her smile, her concern for her patients and her colleagues, and her willingness to always go above and beyond."

" would also like to pay tribute to our teams in the emergency department and our Critical Care Unit who cared for Aimee with such compassion and kindness.”

Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England, said: "I am very sorry to hear of the deaths of both Areema Nasreen and Aimee O’Rourke, and want to send my deepest condolences to their families and friends - not just from me but also on behalf of the nursing profession and whole NHS family.

"They were clearly remarkable women, nurses and mothers.

"I ask everyone to now listen and take the government advice seriously. We need you to stay at home and save lives."