Call by Royal College of Nursing to honour health staff who have lost their lives to covid-19

The Royal College of Nursing is urging people to pause for a minute’s silence at 11am today to honour the memory of all health, care and key workers who have lost their lives since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dame Donna Kinnair, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "This moment will bring together a sombre but grateful nation. Whether in nursing or driving buses, our heroes kept going to work when many had the luxury of staying at home. Nobody should go out to work and risk their life.

"This must not be the last time that sacrifice is recognised. The country and its leaders owes a tremendous debt to these key workers and the many more who are on shift again today.”

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.