Coronavirus memorial at Southport Hospital proposed to honour victims

A permanent memorial could be built at either Southport Hospital or Ormskirk Hospital to honour all of the patients there with Covid-19 who have lost their lives. 

More than 100 people have fallen victim to the virus at Ormskirk and Southport since the pandemic began in March. 

They include South African-born nurse Josephine Peter, who died at Southport Hospital in April after testing positive for the disease. She leaves behind her husband, Thabo Peter, her two children, Bongani and Buhle, a granddaughter, five sisters and one brother.

Her husband described ‘Manini’ as his ‘heroine’. 

A GoFundMe page was set up after Josephine’s death to pay for her funeral and fly her body back to her home country of South Africa, which has raised over £12,000. 

Nurse Josephine Peter has died in Southport after contracting coronavirus

Staff from Southport and Ormskirk hospitals have now been explaining what life has been like behind the scenes over the past months of the Covid-19 pandemic.

They told their stories in a video to highlight Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals Charity’s Covid-19 urgent staff, volunteer and patient welfare appeal.

Chief executive Trish Armstrong-Child, who was joined by Gary Monk, head porter at Ormskirk hospital, Dr Mike Aisbitt, clinical director for A&E, and Kerry Critchley, a senior sister in intensive care, thanks the local community for their “virtual wrapping round of your arms that you’ve given us over the past few weeks”.

All funds raised for the appeal will go towards the purchase of key equipment and services, and potentially towards a memorial for victims. Donations can be made on a dedicated Just Giving page.

Charity chair Neil Masom said: “Unprecedented seems like an overused word at the moment, but we have collectively been through a life-changing period of time. I spent time volunteering with our support teams – catering, porters and housekeepers – during the height of the crisis.  I can honestly say I have been humbled by what I saw. The way people have pushed their own fears aside to come to work and approach every day with positivity and good humour is inspiring.

“We have launched this appeal because we want to provide additional support for our staff, volunteers and patients, who have had to face so many very real challenges.  We want to be able to provide some much-needed extras our budgets just do not cover.

“We are also considering creating a lasting memorial for those who lost their lives, including our own Josephine Peter, a nurse who sadly died with Covid-19 in April.

“I would also like to add my thanks to that already offered by the chief executive to our local community.  We were overwhelmed by the offers of support – from groups sewing extra scrubs, to schools donating goggles, knitted hearts, iPads, lots of Easter eggs – the list is endless.  It really helped to keep staff morale high during the hardest weeks.  We are incredibly fortunate to be supported by such a generous community and we hope we can repay that kindness in the future.”

To find out more about the charity, visit the website or call Ashley Flint on 01704 704714 or email ashley.flint@nhs.net.

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