Yorkshire holds minute's silence in memory of frontline staff who died

People across Yorkshire have held a minute's silence in memory of the frontline staff who have died.

The UK paused for a minute on Tuesday, April 28 in tribute to the sacrifice made by those in roles ranging from doctors and nurses to carers, cleaners, porters and bus drivers.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has just returned to work this week after recovering from Covid-19, joined the countrywide commemoration, as did Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

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In the video taken at the new NHS Nightingale Yorkshire and Humber hospital, staff can be seen reflecting outside as they paid tribute to their colleauges.

Tosief Zahoor, Consultant Surgeon, participating in the minute's silence in Millennium Square, Leeds. .Picture by Simon HulmeTosief Zahoor, Consultant Surgeon, participating in the minute's silence in Millennium Square, Leeds. .Picture by Simon Hulme
Tosief Zahoor, Consultant Surgeon, participating in the minute's silence in Millennium Square, Leeds. .Picture by Simon Hulme

Hospital staff from other NHS trusts including Mid Yorkshire and Leeds Teaching Hospitals also paid tribute.

Staff & firefighters from West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue service, as well as transport staff in Leeds Station and First Bus, also took part in the minutes silence.

It comes as the NHS is preparing to resume key non-coronavirus services, including the most urgent cancer care, over fears thousands of patients could be having their illnesses made worse or missed altogether.

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Professor Karol Sikora, a cancer specialist and dean at the University of Buckingham medical school, said the NHS must get going again on heart and cancer care, adding there was a need to avoid a "catastrophe" on cancer.

Earlier, the Health Secretary was confronted on LBC radio by the son of a medic who died two weeks after warning the Government about a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Intisar Chowdhury, 18, the son of Abdul Mabud Chowdhury, a consultant urologist at Homerton hospital in east London, asked Mr Hancock whether he regretted not taking his father's concerns seriously and asked him to "openly acknowledge" there had been mistakes in handling the virus.

Answering the question, the Health Secretary said: "Intisar, I'm really sorry about your dad's death and I have seen the comments you've made and what you've said in public and I think it's very brave of you.

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"We took very, very seriously what your father said and we've been working around the clock to ensure that there's enough protective equipment."

During the interview, Mr Hancock also suggested that some sport may be allowed to resume behind closed doors as long as it could be carried out in a "socially distanced" way.

"I know that the horse racing fraternity are... looking at how they can do socially-distant, behind closed doors horse racing," he said.

"I think that these are important things to explore and then to tackle the practical questions that they raise."

He added: "I do think it's doable but a lot of work needs to be done to find a way to make it happen."