Coronavirus in Scotland: Tributes paid to frontline NHS workers from Edinburgh who have died after testing positive for Covid-19

Tributes have been paid to two Edinburgh NHS frontline staff who died after testing positive for coronavirus.

Two of the key workers were from Edinburgh, one of whom died just last week.

The tributes come after the Press Association released the names of 230 UK NHS staff who died after testing positive for Covid-19 since 11 March 2020.

Naggayi Angella, a mother of two from Uganda, lived with her two children while studying at Edinburgh Napier University.

Jane Murphy, clinical support worker and Naggayi Angella, trainee mental health nurse, pictured with her children picture: supplied

The 42-year-old died on 25 January this year having been in a coma after contracting Covid-19.

Her children Annmarie Yiga, 12, and John, eight, paid tribute to their mum on a fundraiser set up by a woman’s shelter supporting their care.

Annmarie Yiga said: “In life, we love you dearly, in death we love you still, in our hearts you hold a place no one will ever fill.”

John said: “Mummy was a nice caring person who loved me so much.”

Jane Murphy is another one of the Capital’s key workers who died after contracting coronavirus.

The 73-year-old worked at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for almost 30 years, first as a cleaner before being retrained as a clinical support worker.

She died on 16 April last year.

Affectionately known as ‘Ma Murphy’, those known to her said she will be “greatly missed.”

NHS worker Neil Murray said: “I worked with Jane for five years, she was kind, caring and had a great sense of fun.

“She will be greatly missed.”

Deaths across Scotland

This list below contains NHS workers from across other local authority areas in Scotland who were working in roles shortly before their deaths where they were likely to have come into contact with Covid-19 patients.

The figure will be lower than the true number of workers who have died, as the names of a number of victims will not yet be in the public domain.

- Ana Lisa Sayson, a nurse who worked at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, died on December 15 after contracting Covid-19.

In a statement, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde described her as much-loved and “an incredibly compassionate nurse who was devoted to the care of her patients”.

– Fiona Johnstone, hospital administration worker

Ms Johnstone worked at Biggart Hospital in Prestwick as part of the administration team. Colleagues said she was “valued and highly regarded”. Her death was announced on May 7.

– Robert Black, paramedic

The 52-year-old paramedic had worked for the Scottish Ambulance Service for 28 years. He died on 2 May with confirmed Covid-19 and was described as “an absolute gem of a man”.

– Karen Hutton, care worker

The “much-loved” 58-year-old, who died on April 28 after testing positive for Covid-19, was employed as a staff nurse at Lochleven Care Home in Broughty Ferry, Dundee

- Angie Cunningham, nurse

Angie Cunningham provided “amazing care” as a nurse for 30 years before she died at Borders General Hospital, where she worked, on 22 April. In a joint statement with NHS Borders Trust chief executive Ralph Roberts, Ms Cunningham’s family said: “Angie was a much-loved wife, mother, sister, granny and great granny, as well as a friend to many more.”

– Kirsty Jones, healthcare support worker

The mother-of-two died after working for 24 years with NHS Lanarkshire, where she was described as a “selfless and bright” employee. Her husband, Nigel, said: “She was a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and nurse… A void has opened in our hearts that will never be filled.”

– Johanna Daniels, care home nurse

Originally from South Africa, the 67-year-old had been working in Pitkerro Care Centre, in Dundee, as a nurse. Said by friends to be “incredibly kind-hearted, selfless and dedicated”, she died on April 13 having fallen ill with Covid-19.

– Mick Gallagher, agency care worker

The 34-year-old had been working night shifts in a care home near Glasgow and was training to be a nurse at the time of his death on April 9. He had just moved in with his partner John when he was diagnosed with the virus. He died suddenly, with John by his side. John told Channel 4: “His last words were that he was scared, and I was scared too but I was there for him. And then he told me that he loved me and I said it to him as well, that I loved him and that we were going to get through it.”

- Janice Graham, nurse

The 58-year-old healthcare support worker from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde became the first nurse in Scotland to die as a result of the coronavirus pandemic on April 6.

- Catherine Sweeney, care home worker

Ms Sweeney died on April 4 while being cared for at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. In a statement released through the GMB union, her family said she was a “wonderful mother, sister, and beloved aunty”.

Update on figures

As of 1 February, 6,112 people in Scotland have died who have tested positive for coronavirus since the start of the outbreak in March.

A total of 7,902 deaths have been registered in Scotland where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate up to 24 January, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The Scottish Government has confirmed 38 per cent of coronavirus registered deaths related to deaths in care homes, 56 per cent were in hospitals and six per cent were at home or non-institutional settings (as at 24 January).

So far, 180,533 have tested positive for the virus in Scotland since the start of the pandemic.

A mass vaccination programme has been underway focusing on getting over-80s and over-70s and those considered clinically vulnerable first.

A total of 575,897 people have received the first dose of the Covid vaccination, according to the Scottish Government, and 7,849 have received their second dose.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.