"She was everything I lived for" says husband of nurse who died after testing positive for coronavirus

A nurse who died after testing positive for coronavirus has been described as "a beautiful woman and everything I lived for" by her husband.

Julie Penfold, 53, was a well-loved member of staff at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Trust in Merseyside.

She had been on a career break due to health issues for about 18 months before her death, a spokesman for the health trust said.

Her husband Nick said: "She loved her job. When she was at school, all she ever talked about was being a nurse."

Mrs Penfold, known as Jules, had fostered more than 20 children and also had two daughters, a son, an adopted daughter, two step-daughters and 11 grandchildren, as well as a son and daughter who died.

She and her husband would have celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this year.

Mr Penfold said : "She was just a beautiful woman and everything I lived for. Her death was just such a shock."

A spokesman for the health trust said Mrs Penfold, who had underlying health conditions, was a patient at Arrowe Park Hospital when she died

A book of condolence is being set up in the chapel there and a minute's silence is being planned in her memory.

• A GoFundMe page has been set up in Julie's memory. www.gofundme.com/f/julies-fundraiser