Coronavirus: Minute's silence for Amged El-Hawrani

A minute's silence has been held in memory of a consultant who was one of the first senior medics in the UK to die after contracting coronavirus.

Amged El-Hawrani, who died at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester on Saturday, was described as being "fit and healthy" before he contracted the virus.

His colleagues at Queen's Hospital in Burton fell silent at 13:00 BST on Monday in his honour.

Tributes for the 55-year-old have come in from across the medical profession.

Dr Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said the news had hit colleagues "like a train".

He said: "We knew that Amged was unwell and was receiving support and care in Leicester, so we were all hoping for the best, but in some ways prepared for the worst.

"It's brought home to everybody the seriousness of this outbreak and that NHS and social care workers are literally putting their lives on the line."

A patient Mr El-Hawrani performed "very delicate and tricky" thyroid surgery on at Queen's Hospital last year said he was "an utterly professional and compassionate man".

Jacky Marples added: "I was so shocked and saddened to hear of his passing. I will forever be grateful for everything he did for me during one of the most anxious times of my life and my scar will always remind me of him."

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton said "as far as we are aware [Mr El-Hawrani] was fit and healthy" before he contracted the virus.

His death came after London-based surgeon Dr Adil El Tayar died last Wednesday.

Another doctor, GP Habib Zaidi, died in intensive care at Southend Hospital, Essex, on Wednesday while being treated for suspected coronavirus.

A statement on Mr El-Hawrani's death from the Doctors' Association UK read: "All doctors, including our members, will be deeply affected by this tragic sad news.

"As the medical community mourns this tragic loss, we would like to extend our thanks to those who are continuing to work themselves into the ground to keep patients safe."

They also called on the government to do more to protect NHS workers, saying this was "especially crucial" for those doing the "highest risk" procedures, such as ear, nose and throat surgeons.

Speaking on Sunday, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said the government "will not stop" to get personal protective equipment to frontline workers.

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