‘We are facing perhaps the greatest public health threat in our lifetime’

The chief executive of York NHS Trust says coronavirus is ‘perhaps the greatest public health threat in our lifetime’.

In a video posted to the York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Twitter channel, Simon Morritt paid tribute to the staff working so hard in highly trying circumstances.

"I am truly humbled by the effort and energy of everyone who is working hard to make sure we are ready.” Here’s a thank you to our amazing staff from chief executive, Simon Morritt. #ThankYou #OurNHSPeople pic.twitter.com/PFV3Ku0xQJ

— York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS FT (@YSTeachingNHS) March 31, 2020

This is his message in full:

• In the last few weeks, I have visited our emergency departments, critical care wards, and the wards that will care for patients with Covid-19 on both of our acute sites.

  And I’m truly humbled by the effort and energy of everyone who is working hard to make sure we’re ready.

  We know of course that our team goes beyond our frontline clinical staff. And I doubt there is anyone who works for this trust who hasn’t been contributing to this effort. So thank you all.

  It is an extraordinary time we’re living in, and we are facing perhaps the greatest public health threat in our lifetime.

  Please keep safe – and continue to look out for each other.