‘We've never been prouder’ – Sheffield Children’s Hospital staff praised over coronavirus response

In the letter, which was released today, the board thanked staff for the way they have coped with the pandemic both professionally and personally, saying they have ‘never been prouder of them’.

And they said they hoped the hospital would continue to play a major role in the next phase of the pandemic, using its expertise to help communities recover from the crisis in the weeks and months to come.

They said: “The scale of change you’ve had to make in response to COVID-19 has been vast.

“Almost every aspect of your working life has altered in some way in just a few weeks, while you also deal with huge changes in your personal lives.

“If we’d been told how much change was necessary a few months ago, we probably wouldn’t even have thought it was possible.

“You’ve all risen to the challenge with compassion for your patients and colleagues, with teamwork, and in a way that allowed you continue to provide excellent services for patients and to support the wider trust.

“Whatever your role at Sheffield Children’s, you’ve been amazing. And we know the work you’ll do next will be even more incredible.”

The letter also confirms that only three patients at the trust have so far tested positive for coronavirus, all of whom were being treated for different conditions and have now been able to go home.

It acknowledges, however, that other parts of the NHS have not been so lucky, and says staff will be able to access physical and emotional support whenever they need it.

“With the minute of silence part way through our meeting, the deeply sad losses elsewhere in the NHS were at the forefront of our minds,” they added.

“We are very aware of the impact this situation is having on you and our colleagues, both physically and emotionally.

“While only 1.6 per cent of our workforce has tested positive for COVID-19, we know the impact goes far beyond that. We encourage you to access the support available.”