Clap for Carers backed by Bishop of Durham as he speaks of his family's part in NHS fight against virus

As the nation prepares to come to together tonight, Thursday, April 9, at 8pm, to show appreciation, The Right Revd Paul Butler issued a message of support for those caring for others.

His video is filmed by a print of St Thomas’ Hospital in London, where Prime Minister Boris Johnson is receiving treatment in one of its intensive care units for coronavirus, and where the bishop’s wife, mother-in-law and youngest daughter trained.

The bishop also calls for people to stick to the Government advice, “Stay at Home, Protect The NHS and Save Lives.”

Bishop Paul says: “Our youngest daughter works in A&E in one of the London hospitals, so you can imagine at the moment she is extremely busy.

“Every day, she puts her own health and wellbeing at risk when she goes into work and cares for people with COVID-19.

“She is one of thousands and thousands and thousands who do that day in and day out.

“The NHS is an amazing institution and the people who work in it are absolutely fantastic, they deserve our praise and our thanks, so it’s great that we can get out and clap and hit tin lids and saucepan lids and ring bells and blow whistles to say thank you NHS.

“Thank you too to all those who work in social care, you’re amazing as well, working in nursing homes, visiting people in their homes, ensuring they are looked after still in the midst of this crisis.

“Thank you to all the shop workers who keep serving us, to those who keep collecting our rubbish, to the amazing emergency services for all that you do, for the way in which you put your life and your health on the line to keep us all safe.”

In his prayer to God, he says: “We pray you will lift our nation out of this crisis, help us to be patient, to care for one another by staying at home and keeping our distance.”

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