'Covid campaign' badges to be given to NHS heroes on the Fylde coast

The 6,000 pins, which will be given to all staff and volunteers at the Whinney Heys Road hospital, and the Clifton Hospital in St Annes, will be handed out over the coming weeks.

They will mark the selflessness efforts of everyone who has supported the NHS throughout the course of the coronavirus pandemic so far.

It will also honour their bravery. Hundreds have contracted the virus after putting themselves in harm’s way.

Others sent their families away to keep them safe.

One hero, Eleuterio ‘Boy’ Gibela, who worked for the domestic services team, paid the ultimate sacrifice.

The married dad-of-two was 68 when he died from the disease in May, leaving his family and colleagues devastated.

Hospital boss Kevin McGee said: “We were really keen to make sure our staff knew that their superb efforts over the last four months were greatly appreciated by everyone.

“This has been a totally unprecedented time and we thought this was captured in the design of our badges which detail the year, the rainbow and our own corporate colours.

“They will be a permanent reminder of how staff in all areas and departments have pulled together to deal superbly with what has been regarded as the biggest challenge the NHS has ever faced.

“There is a small cost to the badges [which was not revealed] but I’m sure everyone will agree that this is a tiny price to pay to say ‘thank you’ to all the people ... who have gone way above and beyond to care for our community...”