Oldham NHS staff observe minute silence to reflect on Covid deaths

Chief Executive at the NCA, Raj Jain

Following the announcement by the Government that more than 100,000 people have lost their lives to Covid-19, staff at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group (NCA) which runs four hospitals and community healthcare services in Oldham, Salford, Bury and Rochdale, employing around 20,000 staff, observed a one minute silence.

Raj Jain, Chief Executive of the NCA, said: “This provided all of us with a moment to pause to reflect on those who have lost their lives to Covid, both across our hospitals and across the country since the pandemic took hold last year.

"Many of our people have experienced this virus themselves and some have sadly lost loved ones, family and friends.

"At the NCA, we have sadly lost a number of colleagues to COVID-19, the hardest of times for our NCA Family.

“We recognise the impact and demand the pandemic has had on our staff and services over the last 12 months, and the immense contribution and work we have done collectively to maintain essential services, and support and save the lives of so many of our patients.

“Our frontline staff at our hospitals in Salford, Oldham, Bury, Rochdale and in the community have been amazing, as have back office staff.

"The virus really has turned the way we work on its head, and through it all the staff have dug deep and worked tirelessly to protect each other, our patients and visitors, be that wearing a ventilator and PPE for 12 hours, or our back office staff uprooting and working from home to limit the spread of infection.

"I am proud of each and every one of them.”

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