A 60-year-old nurse has become the fourth Filipino NHS worker to die after contracting coronavirus.
Melujean Ballesteros died at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, west London, on Sunday after being admitted on Friday.
The mother-of-two fell ill with flu-like symptoms in mid-March, but only went to hospital after her family convinced her to two days before her death.
Philippine ambassador Antonio Lagdameo has paid tribute to Mrs Ballesteros, nurse Leilani Dayrit and hospital porters Oscar King Jr and Elbert Rico, who were all from the Philippines and have all died of the virus.
Nurse Melujean Ballesteros, 60, has become the fourth Filipino NHS worker to die of coronavirus. She died at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, west London, on Sunday
Leilani Dayrit, 47, worked as a nurse at St Cross Hospital in Rugby, Warwickshire, and died on April 7
A House of Commons report from last year found that at least 18,000 Filipinos work for the NHS. They form the third largest ethnic group in the Health Service, second only to British and Indian.
Mrs Ballesteros is survived by her husband Luis, 64, and their two sons Rainier, 37, and Bryan, 38.
Her younger son said: ‘My mum is a dedicated and very caring nurse. She started her career in the UK in 2003, she loved her work as a nurse.’
Rainier, who lives in Calauag in the Philippines, added that Mrs Ballesteros had a fever and cough in mid-March and self-isolated for nine days.
But on Friday he said she was picked up by an ambulance and taken to hospital after her family advised her to on account of her worsening condition.
A GoFundMe page was created by colleague Faz Ghooloo, lead nurse at St Mary’s Hospital, to help raise funds for funeral costs.
In a touching tribute, Ms Ghooloo wrote: ‘Melujean was a kind-hearted person who dedicated her life to her profession as a nurse.
‘She always had a smile and she never complained about anything.’
Pictured far right is Elbert Rico, a hospital porter at the John Radcliffe Hospital
Another of the NHS frontline workers from the Philippines to fall victim to the virus was Leilani Dayrit.
The 47-year-old worked as a nurse at St Cross Hospital in Rugby, Warwickshire, and died on April 7.
She leaves behind her husband a daughter, who described her as ‘selfless until the very end’ and a ‘truly special and beautiful person inside and out’.
A crowdfunding page set up to fund funeral costs has already raised more than £11,000.
It reads: ‘She was a ray of sunshine to those people who were fortunate to meet her.
‘Her beautiful smile mirrors her beautiful heart full of love. Her strong will power to surpass any trial in life and her optimism resonates to everyone.’
Mrs Dayrit had worked for the NHS for 16 years after training in her native Philippines.
She was described as a ‘very dedicated worker’ who was often referred to by children of her friends as ‘Mummy Lei’ or ‘second mother’.
She grew up with seven siblings in Vigan City, going on to become a community youth leader, student and even a beauty queen.
She got her degree in nursing from the University of North Philippines before moving to the UK.
Professor Andy Hardy, Chief Executive Officer at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, said in a statement: ‘It is with great sadness that I can confirm that a member of staff at the Hospital of St Cross, Rugby has sadly passed away.
Pictured: Mrs Ballesteros died at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, west London
‘All our thoughts are with their family, friends and colleagues and we offer them our sincerest condolences.
‘The Trust is doing everything it can to support both the family and our staff during this very difficult and distressing time.’
He said he could not confirm that Mrs Dayrit tested positive for the virus.
Two Filipino hospital porters have also died after contracting COVID-19.
Oscar King Jr and Elbert Rico both worked at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
They were both married to other nurses at the hospital, the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust said in a statement.
It read: ‘It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the deaths of two members of staff, both of whom were porters at the John Radcliffe Hospital and both married to members of our nursing teams.
Nurse Gareth Roberts, who came out of retirement to work for the NHS during the crisis, has also died
‘Both men were popular and hard-working members of our fantastic team of porters at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
‘They will be sorely missed by their colleagues as well as family and friends in the wider community.’
Philippine ambassador Antonio Lagdameo, said in a statement: ‘Filipino health workers have served tirelessly and courageously at the frontlines of the war against this pandemic, and their contribution to the ongoing effort to save lives is nothing but immense.
‘The escalation of confirmed Covid-19 cases and Covid-19-related deaths point out the undeniable truth that this disease is an existential threat even to the most healthy and fit among us.’
Tributes have also poured in for other health care workers who have died with Covid-19.
Experienced nurse Julie Omar, 52, died after treating patients, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said. She had been self-isolating at home after developing symptoms.
Sara Trollope, 51, was confirmed to have died by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust. She had previously met Boris Johnson
Trust chief executive Matthew Hopkins said: ‘It is with great sorrow that I have to share with you the sad news that a much-loved member of our nursing team – Julie Omar – has died.’
Nurse Sara Trollope has died after testing positive for the virus at Watford General Hospital and nurse Gareth Roberts, who had more than 40 years experience, has died, Cardiff and Vale NHS Healthcare Trust said.
Mrs Trollope, 51, who has worked at Hillingdon Hospital, died at Watford General Hospital, the Central and North West London (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust said on Saturday.
The mother-of-four had spent 33 years working for the NHS and has been praised for her empathy and support for older people with dementia.
Medical director Dr Paul Hopper said: ‘Sara had that unbeatable combination of kindness, selflessness and total determination to get things right for patients. She was an example to every one of us.’
Tracy Woods, who set up a fundraiser for Mrs Trollope’s family, said: ‘Sara cared very much about her patients and staff and completely loved her job.
‘Sadly it was the job that cost her life.’
Nurse Gareth Roberts, who had more than 40 years experience, was also confirmed to have died after testing positive for the virus, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said.
Experienced nurse Julie Omar, 52, has died, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said. She had been self-isolating after developing coronavirus-like symptoms
Mandy Siddorn, 61, who worked for a pharmacist in the north-west of England died after contracting coronavirus
He had come out of retirement to work for the NHS during the crisis.
Paying tribute to Mr Roberts, a nurse since the 1980s, colleagues at the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: ‘Gareth was well known by everyone and was extremely popular, fun-filled and well-liked person, always greeting everyone with, ‘Hello Cariad’ when he saw them.
Pharmacy worker Mandy Siddorn, 61, from Birkenhead in Merseyside has also died, her employer Swettenham Chemists Ltd has said. They operate branches across Chester, Wirral and north Wales.
‘It is with much sadness that we acknowledge the loss of one of our Swettenham ‘family’, Mandy, who passed away as a result of contracting coronavirus,’ the business said.
Kevin Smith, who worked putting plaster casts on patients at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, died after catching coronavirus. Colleagues paid tribute to him as an ‘incredible person’ who ‘loved his job’ and as a man who was ‘renowned for his warm personality’
Donna Campbell, 54, tested positive for coronavirus after being admitted into intensive care at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. She has been described as a bubbly personality
Kevin Smith, who died after a short battle with coronavirus, had worked putting plaster casts on patients at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, South Yorkshire. He had been employed by the NHS for 35 years.
His heartbroken daughter Ellie Whitley wrote on social media: ‘It’s so overwhelming to see so many amazing comments for such an incredible person who loved his job and everyone he worked with for many years.
Donna Campbell, 54, worked as a nurse at the Velindre cancer hospital, Cardiff, where she was known for singing and dancing with patients.
She had been at the hospital for 20 years after getting her first position there as a volunteer, and was known among staff and patients for her bright and bubbly personality.
Ms Campbell was treated in intensive care at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, after she tested positive for the virus.
The Velindre University NHS Trust paid tribute to the nurse who will ‘always have a special place in our hearts’.
NHS heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice while treating coronavirus patients
Leilani Dayrit, 47, died of suspected coronavirus at St Cross Hospital in Rugby, Warwickshire. The Trust is yet to make a comment.
Elsie Sazuze, a care home nurse who worked for Wolverhampton-based agency Totallycare, died this week, the agency confirmed.
Healthcare Assistant Glen Corbin, 59, had worked at the Park Royal Centre for Mental Health in Harlesden, north-west Lodon, for more than 25 years
Two porters at the John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford have died, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said on Saturday. The trust added that both men were married to nursing staff at the hospital.
Liz Glanister, a nurse at Aintree University Hospital, died on Friday April 3.
Areema Nasreen, 36, died on April 2 in intensive care at Walsall Manor Hospital in the West Midlands – where she had worked as a nurse for 16 years.
Aimee O’Rourke, 39, died at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQMH) in Margate, Kent, where she worked as a nurse, on April 9.
Rebecca Mack, 29, died on Sunday after going into self-isolation with coronavirus symptoms.
Donald Suelto, who worked at Hammersmith Hospital in west London, died after going into self-isolation with coronavirus symptoms, a friend and fellow NHS nurse said.
The Mail on Sunday reported that 27-year-old nurse John Alagos – who treated coronavirus patients at Watford General Hospital – died after a shift on Friday April 3.
Nurse Alice Kit Tak Ong, 70, passed away on Tuesday, her daughter said.
Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex on Sunday April 5 announced the death of 54-year-old midwife Lynsay Coventry while Janice Graham, a 58-year-old healthcare support worker in Scotland, died on Monday.
Healthcare assistant Thomas Harvey, 57, a father-of-seven who worked at Goodmayes Hospital in Ilford, east London, died at home on March 29.
Another healthcare assistant, Glen Corbin, 59, had worked at the Park Royal Centre for Mental Health in Harlesden, north-west London, for more than 25 years.
Dr Habib Zaidi, 76, a GP in Leigh-on-Sea, died in intensive care at Southend Hospital, Essex, on March 25.
Amged El-Hawrani, an ear, nose and throat consultant with University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB), died at the Glenfield Hospital in Leicester on March 28.
Dr Alfa Saadu, 68, who had returned to work from retirement, died on Monday at the Whittington Hospital in north London.
Transplant surgeon Adil El Tayar, 63, died at West Middlesex University Hospital in Isleworth, west London, on March 25.
Professor Sami Shousha, 79, who had worked at UK cancer research laboratories at London’s Hammersmith and Charing Cross hospitals since 1978, died on April 2.
Consultant geriatrician Anton Sebastianpillai, who had a long association with Kingston Hospital in south-west London, died on April 4.
Consultant urologist Abdul Mabud Chowdhury, 53, who wrote a Facebook post asking Prime Minister Boris Johnson to urgently provide every NHS worker with PPE, died on Wednesday night.
Dr Edmond Adedeji, 62, who worked as a locum registrar in the emergency department of Great Western Hospital in Swindon, Wiltshire, died on April 8.
Jitendra Rathod, an associate specialist in cardio-thoracic surgery at the University Hospital of Wales, died on Monday morning.
GP Fayez Ayache, 76, died in Ipswich Hospital on April 8.
Another family doctor, Syed Haider, who worked in Dagenham east London, died in hospital on Monday after it is believed he developed coronavirus symptoms.
Patient discharge planner Barbara Moore, 54, died on Monday, the Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said.