ONE YEAR ON: Commemorations held at Wigan hospitals for Covid-19 anniversary

The Tree of Hope outside Wigan Infirmary was lit up yellow on Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of the UK going into national lockdown.

Staff and patients also hung messages of reflection, memorial or hope, as well as poignant ones of grief and loss, on trees in the chapel and prayer rooms at the trust's Wigan, Wrightington and Leigh hospitals.

Anyone wishing to talk about the unprecedented events of the last 12 months could also speak to the hospital chaplaincy service.

WWL chief executive Silas Nicholls said the day of reflection was an opportunity to mourn those lost but also think about the huge changes wrought by Covid-19 and reflect on how communities have pulled together in the face of the novel coronavirus.

He praised the efforts of NHS and health care staff throughout the last year, both in looking after those who became seriously ill and then working to protect the public through the roll-out of the vaccination programme.

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