Harlow hospital pays tribute to midwife who dies from Covid-19

A midwife working at the Alexandra Hospital in Harlow has died from Covid-19 it has been confirmed.

Lynsay Coventry, 54, died on Thursday 2 April at Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, and is the first serving NHS midwife in England whose death has been publicly confirmed.

Lynsay Coventry’s family said:

“As a family, our hearts are broken at the loss of our loving, wonderful and caring mum, sister, daughter and grandmother.

“We each know how much she loved and cherished us. Her love for us all was unfailing and her strength in the way she cared and supported us will fill our memories.

A colleague posted a photograph online showing the whole maternity department at the hospital, standing two metres apart but "united in grief".

Rachel Marchant said "Part of us has been lost but we still go on with our work for you all. If this doesn’t stop you from going out this weekend then we shouldn’t be friends! I beg u, stay home!'

Harlow Council also paid tribute

Councillor Mark Ingall, Leader of the Council (Labour) and Councillor Andrew Johnson, Leader of the Opposition (Conservative), said:

“We are deeply moved and saddened to hear of the death of a clearly much-loved midwife Lynsay Coventry who worked at our town’s Princess Alexandra hospital.

“Neither of us knew Lynsay personally, but we are grateful for her 10 years of dedicated service at Princess Alexandra Hospital where she worked as a midwife, helping to deliver so many of Harlow’s babies and supporting local mums.

”Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Lynsay’s family, friends and all the staff at the hospital."