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A single week in December saw Lincolnshire deaths reach 13 times the yearly average, explained local health bosses frustrated with COVID deniers.

Lincolnshire County Council’s Director of Public Health Professor Derek Ward told BBC Radio Lincolnshire that the week including December 14 would usually see an average of 23 deaths.

In 2020, there had been 301 deaths, some 13 times the usual figures. “Anybody who says COVID isn’t real, think about those numbers,” he said.

“COVID is a killer, let’s make sure we stick with that hands, face, space message.”

Government figures say 1,241 people in Lincolnshire have died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus, with 664 having died in the county’s hospitals. Nationally, 94,580 deaths have been recorded.

A chart showing COVID deaths in Lincolnshire since the start of the pandemic. | Graph: Gov UK

Professor Ward said the figure was higher than the average excess mortality rates.

“We were fortunate with the first wave, we actually had fewer deaths due to COVID than we thought we might have, given we’ve got an older population, but really sadly we’ve seen quite a lot of deaths over over the winter period.”

The death rate in December saw the Woodhall Spa COVID mortuary activated.

He said it was “hugely frustrating” that people still denied the pandemic but that they were a “tiny, tiny proportion”.

However, he added: “It’s not just about COVID, it’s about the impact… on our NHS.

“All you’ve got to do is look at the hospital situation, or listen to [the news] to realise that if you are unlucky enough to be in a car accident or have a heart attack, if all the beds are full of COVID patients you are not going to get the support that you need from the NHS.

“That’s why it’s really important that we minimise the number of people who’ve got it, because it will have an impact on people who don’t get it but need NHS care.”

A Lincolnshire paramedic who died from COVID-19 in December will have a minute’s silence in his honour on the day of his funeral.

Tony Chadbourne, often known as Chad or Chadders, died of the virus on the week of Christmas after 23 years service for East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS).

His family described him as an “NHS hero who dedicated his life to his career” and now he will be honoured as such at his funeral on Friday, January 22.

Tony Chadbourne worked in the ambulance service for over 20 years. | Photo: EMAS

Tony had recently received his 20 year service medal from EMAS, and was promoted to Duty Operations Manager a month before his passing.

EMAS posted a tribute on social media on the day of the funeral, vowing to mark Tony’s life with a minute’s silence at 12.45pm.

It reads: “Due to current national restrictions, we cannot pay our respects in the way we normally would for a colleague and so instead will be marking a minute’s silence at 12.45pm today, wherever we are.

“If you would like to join us in observing a minute’s silence to remember Tony, wherever you are at 12.45pm, please do.”

A number of heartfelt tributes have been shared by people at EMAS to remember Tony, from staff and bosses alike.

Richard Henderson, EMAS chief executive, said: “Losing Chad is incredibly sad, and it’s difficult to find the words to express how colleagues across the service will be feeling as they hear this devastating news.

“My thoughts are with Chad’s family, and his close colleagues and good friends, many of whom will be at work today and over the coming weeks; continuing to provide emergency and urgent care for those who need it.”

Her Royal Highness, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, surprised local healthcare staff at the Lincolnshire General Practice Nurse Conference.

The Queen’s daughter-in-law, who is married to Prince Edward, joined the start of the conference on Wednesday, January 20 and thanked all healthcare staff in Lincolnshire for their efforts during the pandemic.

She was welcomed to the conference on what was her 56th birthday by Dr Helen Garr.

She spoke with the nurses and healthcare assistants and asked how they were coping during the pandemic.

Nurses and HCAs attending the conference.

The day before her 89-year-old father had his COVID vaccine and Sophie said “it was a huge weight off my mind”.

“I know that that wouldn’t be happening without the care and attention of the nurses out in general surgeries,” she said.

https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1352211006253051904

The conference also included professional development sessions, the launch of the ShinyMind wellbeing app, and the General Practice Nurse and Health Care Assistant Awards.

The Lincolnshire Training Hub Team.

Lisa Freeman, Director of Nursing at Lincolnshire Training Hub, said: “To have such a high profile visitor attend our conference and recognise all of the hard work which goes on with nursing teams in Lincolnshire General Practice has provided a much needed boost to our workforce.

“We all headed into the practices with a spring in our step.”

Dr Runa Saha, GP and Medical Director at Lincolnshire Training Hub, said: “We are committeed to supporting the recruitment, training and development needs for General Practice in Lincolnshire. Our workforce are passionate about meeting the needs of the Lincolnshire patients.

“We are proud to be supporting the growth of the workforce through placements in Primary Care for students from the University of Lincoln and other institutions, creating a new generation of healthcare staff.”

Awards winners

• Nurse of the Year – Celia Hughes
• HCA/NA of the Year – Peter Malleappah
• Nursing Team of the Year – Church Walk
• Student Placement of the Year – Abbey Medical Group
• The Extra Mile Award – Sue Smith
• Outstanding Contribution to General Practice – Adele Parsons