FROM THE EDITOR: Why 1,000 amazing reunions in Sheffield bring stories of hope and utter joy

Today I invite you to celebrate the most positive number I have seen for a very long time.

Sheffield’s doctors, nurses, paramedics, porters, cleaners, receptionists and many more in our hospital teams have helped 1,000 people to recover from coronavirus and return to their homes.

There can’t be many positive numbers like that which will mean so much to this city in such a delightful way.

We have all wondered what would happen if we caught this virus and worried that those we love most just might.

We picture the worst – but that is so often not what happens.

Now we can all imagine how joyful the reunions must have been when loved ones were finally back with their families.

Allow a minute to let that one settle in and share in their delight.

I challenge any of you to imagine such a large number of incredible reunions with family and friends without breaking into a smile.

On top of that, almost 2,000 new Sheffielders have been helped out by midwives during lockdown.

As lockdown is eased, those welcome parties will be quite another number to add to your happy quota.

Just yesterday, I heard a group of businessmen singing the praises of our hospitals, their international reputation and what that means for Sheffield … even when you look beyond our healthcare.

We all rely on the fact that they are there when we are at our absolute lowest.

Isn’t it nice for them to know that we are also there for them when they protect the ultimate gift, life?

No patient should be treated as a number, no matter what the circumstances.

The same applies for everyone who works for our NHS – from the very top to every level in every building and every community.

It is those individuals who make the difference and to every one of them we all say thanks on behalf of the 1,000 recovered patients and the hundreds of thousands who are so relieved that their loved ones are a beloved member of that club.

Keep safe, show gratitude and let’s protect our NHS.