Queen Elizabeth Hospital staff will take part in a minute’s silence on International Workers Memorial Day to remember a colleague who died from the coronavirus.
Chrissie Emerson, a healthcare assistant at QEH and much-loved mother and grandmother, is one of more than 100 healthcare workers who have lost their lives during the pandemic.
UNISON and other healthcare unions have called for a minute’s silence at 11am on Tuesday 28 April, International Workers Memorial Day, for all the front-line staff who have lost their lives.
QEH confirmed it will hold “a one-minute silence across QEH in Chrissie’s memory.”
The Trust told staff: “We know that many colleagues across the QEH family will wish to join us so you can pay your own respects to Chrissie and to take a moment to remember all NHS workers who have passed away and been affected by COVID.”
UNISON has asked the government to back the tribute across the UK, with general secretary Dave Prentis writing to Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State Dominic Raab this week.
In his letter, Mr Prentis describes the deaths of “selfless” health and social care workers on the frontline as a national “tragedy”.
He says: “Health and social care workers on the frontline across the country are losing their lives to coronavirus. This is a tragedy for their families, friends, colleagues and for the nation.
“We would like the government to endorse this tribute formally and publicly. This is in order that our entire country can take a moment to honour the selfless workers who have been taken from us too soon in protecting our citizens and caring for others.”
UNISON is also asking employers, people at work and those on lockdown at home to pay their respects by joining the silence.