An aircraft that defended the nation from peril during the Second World War flew over Northampton General Hospital today to say thankyou to workers battling the current national threat.
Spitfires (along with Hurricanes) were the state of the art fighter planes that turned back the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain.
Today one of the surviving examples zoomed over NGH with the words “Thank U NHS” emblazoned on the underside of its wings.
Dave Ikin captured the aircraft as it flew past.
NGH was among the hospitals taking part in drug trials that discovered the low cost steroid Dexamethosone helped patients suffering from Covid-19.
Last month a patient returned home after 86 days in hospital suffering with Covid-19.
A statement from Northampton General Hospital said:
Gordon Anderson, a patient who had COVID-19 at Northampton General Hospital, has returned home to his family after 86 days in hospital.
Gordon came in to the Accident and Emergency department at the hospital on 27 March with COVID-19 symptoms and a low oxygen level. Following his admission to hospital he needed care in the hospital’s critical care department to help him to breathe. After a long recovery and almost three months in hospital Gordon was given the good news that he was well enough to return home to continue his recovery with his family.
As he left the hospital, his family greeted him and staff from A&E, Critical Care and Finedon ward all lined the route to clap and wave him off. Teams from the East Midlands Ambulance service also joined in and lit up the route with blue lights.
Chris Pallot, Director of Strategy and Partnerships said: “It’s always special to see a patient recovering and leaving the hospital, but even more so when they have been with us for the length of time that Gordon has.
“It was heart-warming to see him finally reunited with his family and on his way home. It has been a privilege to have him in our care and everyone at Northampton General wishes him well with his recovery”.
