‘They had so much life... and wanted to live so much’
COUNCILLOR WHO LOST BOTH PARENTS TO COVID SAYS THANKS FOR NHS CARE
A COUNCILLOR paid a moving tribute to NHS staff after she tragically lost both her parents to coronavirus.
Coun Donna Williams’ mum Patricia died in the ambulance that was rushing her to hospital in March last year.
Aged 70, she had been in a care home since suffering a stroke in 2019, but was soon due to come home after her house was specially adapted. Donna’s dad Maurice, 72, lost his battle just last month.
The retired construction worker was taken to hospital as Covid left him struggling for breath, but sadly died two days later with his daughter at his side.
The Middleton councillor felt moved to tell her story during a Rochdale council debate on Wednesday on the government’s recommendation that NHS staff in England should receive a 1pc pay increase this year.
She was seconding a Labour motion calling on ministers to think again and recommend a pay award ‘worthy of the sacrifices’ they had ‘continually made.’
An emotional Coun Williams said she knew ‘first hand’ how the pandemic had affected her family, friends and constituents and many NHS staff themselves.
“I have listened to their stories and now I’m going to tell you my story,” she said.
Coun Williams told the remote meeting how NHS workers had supported her and her loved ones during their most harrowing moments.
“I have seen their grief, their anger and the sadness they have felt through all of this. But they have all carried on tirelessly,” she said.
“It was a paramedic who held my mum’s hand and comforted her when she took her last breath en route to hospital. She died in the ambulance.
“It was a paramedic who came to my house to take my dad to hospital to be ventilated - knowing that me and my dad were affected with Covid”.
Coun Williams’ moving tribute continued.
“To the A&E staff who turned my dad on to his front so he could breathe and they fought to save his life,” she said.
“To Maggie, who stayed on after her shift to make sure my dad got to the Covid ward and to make sure I was okay.
“To Kate, who nursed my dad and made him comfortable at his end of life. To the health care assistant who, at 2am, brought me a blanket and a recliner chair because I was laying next to my dad while I was suffering from Covid and struggling to breathe myself.
“They helped me and they cared for me on the ward.”
She added: “To the specialist who sat with me and told me after 48 hours that my dad would not recover from Covid and I should say my goodbyes.
“To the two doctors who were leaving to go home after their shift late that evening on February 6, who
During the pandemic it’s been our amazing NHS staff who have kept our country going. Councillor Donna Williams
picked me up when my body failed and comforted me and made sure I got to my care as my dad had just passed away and I was alone. “I thank you all.”
The Conservative group ultimately voted for the motion, but tabled an amendment which urged the government to make mental health support - and improved conditions - the top priority.
This removed the demand for a review of the 1pc pay rise recommendation. Tory councillors felt such a move was ‘premature’ as it pre-empted the decision of the NHS pay-review body.
Those on the Conservative benches said a cross-party call for mental health support would be a more ‘positive’ move - while the Labour motion was likely to prove ‘futile.’
Coun Williams told the meeting that ‘the death and the suffering’ she had seen on the Covid ward had left her in need of ongoing mental health support.
And she said this was also true of NHS staff who have been repeatedly exposed to the horrors of the pandemic - yet ‘still continue to go to work every single day.’
But she rejected the Conservatives’ call to drop demands over pay.
“During the pandemic it’s been our amazing NHS staff who have kept our country going,” she said.
“So this government’s insulting recommendation of a 1pc pay rise for NHS workers who are exhausted after a year of working tirelessly, caring for patients during the pandemic is totally unacceptable.”
Coun Williams told the meeting that a ‘decent deal’ for NHS staff was ‘fair, necessary and is affordable.’
The motion was ultimately supported unanimously by councillors when put to the vote.
Maurice and Patricia Williams lived in Middleton and had five children, five grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
Speaking after the meeting Coun Williams said they had both been taken ‘far too soon.’
“They had so much life and had so much going on and wanted to live so much,” she said.
Both from Langley, they ‘loved Middleton and loved life.’
“They really wanted to live, it just feels like we had come so far to have them taken away with Covid,” Coun Williams said.