FLAGS FOR CRITICAL CARE HEROES WILL STAY IN PLACE FOR 'NEXT FEW WEEKS'

ATHERSTONE and North Warwickshire firefighters will be "flying the flag" tonight in tribute to their NHS heroes.

Just 24 hours after nurses from the George Eliot hospital sang a heart-rending farewell to Atherstone "legend" Brian Cunner Cadman in the final moments of his battle with coronavirus, special banners will unfurled to frontline staff at the now-weekly national 8pm clapathon for health workers .

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service is set to fly a "NHS – we thank you" ensign from each of its 17 stations on Thursday night, acknowledging the tireless efforts to save lives during the coronavirus pandemic.

It was the idea of local fire crews who wanted some way to pay tribute to the amazing work of all those going "above and beyond" to help keep communities safer during the virus.

A spokeswoman for Warwickshire FRS told Nub News: "Like many people, a number of our firefighters have wives, husbands, parents, children, family members and friends who work in the NHS and they wanted them to see the flags on their way to work or even on their way home from a difficult shift, so they can see that people are thinking of them and are grateful for the sacrifices they are having to make.

Chief Fire Officer Kieran Amos added: "We all know that our NHS staff are doing an incredible job working around the clock to care for patients of Covid-19 in addition to other patients, which is why we wanted to show our support in a more visual way for those who may be walking or driving past our fire stations on their way to or from work.

"We also wanted to echo the thanks coming from our local communities to acknowledge all those working in the NHS and our care services by saying a massive thank you.

"The flags will be flying high for the next few weeks and we hope that all those who see them will think of the commitment our NHS colleagues and carers across the country are making to help to save lives.

"In return, all we ask is that people play their part and stay home to help reduce the spread of the virus, so that we can once again see all those that we have missed so much during this time."

As well as flying the flags high, the stations will also be supporting tonight's #ClapfortheNHS along with their local communities to further show their appreciation and support for their NHS colleagues.

The Government has identified 27 NHS staff who have died after contracting coronavirus but the true figure is thought to be much higher.

Tributes have been coming in today for health care assistant Lourdes Campbell who died in the critical care unit at Royal Bolton Hospital after contracting the virus; Wrexham Maelor Hospital theatre assistant Andy Treble, 57, who died yesterday after testing positive for the disease; and Mid Cheshire Hospitals porter Brian Darlington – famous for handing out sweets to his colleagues – who also succumbed to the virus on Wednesday.