Melbourne nurse Gillian ‘Jill’ Dempsey dies after catching Covid

Daniel Andrews has said the death of an emergency department nurse has highlighted the seriousness of Covid as he thanked her for her “many years of dedicated care”.

Premier Daniel Andrews has thanked an emergency department nurse who died after she contracted Covid-19 for her “many years of dedicated care”.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (Victorian Branch) on Tuesday afternoon confirmed that Gillian “Jill” Dempsey, who worked at the Angliss Hospital, had died.

“We honour the contribution she’s made to our state,” Mr Andrews said.

“Can I on behalf of all Victorians say how sorry we are to hear that someone, who committed her entire working life to caring for others, has lost her life in the service of others.”

Mr Andrews said Ms Dempsey was double vaccinated, wearing PPE and was doing all the “right things” but still managed to contract the virus.

He said her death highlighted the seriousness of the virus.

“As we’ve said so many times, this can be deadly”.

In a statement, the ANMF said: “It is with the heaviest of hearts we acknowledge the death of Angliss Hospital emergency department nurse Jill Dempsey after contracting COVID-19”.

“Our thoughts are with Jill’s family, friends and nursing colleagues. There are difficult days ahead. Please look after each other.”

The union said despite a large number of nurses testing positive, Ms Dempsey’s death was a reminder of the vulnerability of healthcare workers.

Gillian ‘Jill’ Dempsey.

She died on Sunday afternoon.

“This is something we feared and a sobering reminder that nurses, midwives and all healthcare workers are on the pandemic frontline,” the statement said.

“We acknowledge their bravery and courage. This is a reminder of how vulnerable they are.

“Nurses and midwives don’t want to be heroes, they want to go home to their families and loved ones at the end of a shift. ANMF will continue to work to ensure nurses, midwives and carers are safe at work.”

The ANMF urged people to take the virus seriously.

“Please know nurses, midwives and personal care workers are doing everything they can to care for you. Please take every measure you can to take care of them,” she said.

In a statement, Eastern Health said Jill died in Box Hill Hospital’s ICU ward on Sunday afternoon.

“The Board, Executive and staff of Eastern Health mourn the sad death of our colleague and friend Gillian “Jill” Dempsey,” it read.

Gillian ‘Jill’ Dempsey was an Angliss Hospital emergency department nurse. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Ms Dempsey has been remembered as an “incredibly caring wife and mother”, survived by husband Michael and their three children.

She commenced work at Eastern Health in 2007 and has been an “incredibly hard-working and beloved night shift nurse” in the Angliss Hospital Emergency Department.

“Her colleagues speak highly of the care, warmth and compassion that Jill demonstrated every day,” an Eastern Health spokesman said.

“Her loss will reverberate around the tight-knit team at the Angliss Hospital and our thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues at this time.

“We respectfully request kindness, compassion and privacy at this time.”

Friend Kathryn Woolmore said she was “broken” by Ms Dempsey’s passing.

“Jill, you have left us WAY to soon. Life can be so unfair. Your beautiful family were your life and I know you were so very proud of them. They too are so proud of you,” Ms Woolmore wrote on Facebook.

“You have put up such a brave fight. I miss you little one, nothing is the same now.

“The world was a better place with you in it. Sleep peacefully Jill.”

Former health minister Jenny Mikakos said: “This is such awful news and a reminder of the risks our health care workers take each day for all of us.”

A GoFundMe page page has been set up by Jill’s colleagues to raise “much needed funds” for the family.

“Jill was a much loved member of the team and this pandemic has taken its toll on everyone but none more so than our beloved Jilly and her family,” organiser Sandy Taylor wrote.

Money raised will go towards funeral costs and to ease any immediate financial stress.

The page had raised almost $6000 in just six hours.