Emotional Tributes Paid To Two NHS Nurses Who Died Of Coronavirus Within Hours Of Each Other

Two NHS nurses in their 30s have died within hours of each other, after contracting coronavirus.

Aimee O’Rourke, 38, died last night at the QEQM Hospital in Margate, Kent after she started showing symptoms two weeks ago. Hours later, just after midnight, Areema Nasreen, 36, died in intensive care at the Walsall Manor Hospital, West Midlands, where she’d worked.

Both were mothers of three.

Ms O’Rourke’s daughter, Megan posted on Facebook: ‘Look at all the lives you looked after and all the families you comforted when patients passed away. You are an angel and you will wear your NHS crown forever more because you earned that crown the very first day you started. Your Meggy misses you beyond belief. One day when I have children of my own I will tell your grandchildren about their GG (glamorous gran) which you wanted to be called, every single day. I could go on all day long and have so many things to say but I have to be strong. Night night mummy.’

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s Chief Executive Richard Beeken said Ms Nasreen had ‘always dreamed of being a nurse’ adding: ‘Any death is devastating but losing one of our own is beyond words.

Ms Nasreen had worked in housekeeping at Walsall Manor Hospital since 2003, and qualified to be a staff nurse in January last year. In an NHS press release at the time, she said, 'I cry every morning because I’m so happy that I’ve finally realised my dream of becoming a nurse.'

‘She was a very, very, respected and valued member of the team on the acute medical unit and they are absolutely distraught. Her dedication to her role and her popularity amongst her colleagues is obvious to see with the outpouring of grief,' said Mr Beeken.

He added: ‘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 make a difference - and you did, Areema, you will be very sadly missed.’

Dr Samara Afzal, a GP in Birmingham who knew Ms Nasreen, told BBC Asian Network: ‘They [the family] are still coming to terms [with her death]. It's heartbreaking for the children who didn't get to see her, because of the circumstances and the nature of Covid.

‘She was very bubbly, full of life... she was a fantastic role model to Asian women, she married young and had children but then wanted to pursue her dream in nursing, became a nurse and absolutely loved her job, she was completely dedicated to it, she'd go out of her way to help people.’

Seven frontline health workers have now died after contracting Covid-19. There have been increased calls to improve testingfor NHS workers.

Dr Habib Zaidi, 76, became ill and died in intensive care on March 25 at Southend Hospital in Essex on Wednesday. Dr Adil El Tayar, 63, died on March 28 after contracting the virus at the Hereford County Hospital. Dr Amged El-Hawrani, 55, an ear nose and throat (ENT) specialist at Queen's Hospital Burton, died on March 29. Nurse Thomas Harvey, 57, of Goodmayes Hospital, London, died on Sunday after contracting the virus. Dr Alfa Saadu, 68, died on Tuesday after working at Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.