Emergency nurse Jill Dempsey dies after catching Covid

Heartbroken friends and colleagues have paid tribute to a frontline Covid nurse who died after catching the virus.

Tributes are flowing for a frontline Victorian nurse described as “a real angel” after she died from Covid.

Gillian “Jill” Dempsey had been an emergency department nurse at the Angliss Hospital in Melbourne’s east since 2007.

Ms Dempsey died at Box Hill Hospital’s intensive care unit on Sunday afternoon after contracting Covid.

Heartbroken friends and colleagues paid tribute to the mother-of-three in a GoFundMe set up to support her family.

“Such a tragic loss. My thoughts are with Jill’s family,” wrote one colleague.

“Always a wonderful person to work with in the ED. Thank you for everything you’ve done for the community and for your patients over the years.”

Emergency department nurse Jill Dempsey died after contracting Covid-19. Picture: Supplied

“A true hero, angel and tragic loss,” another posted.

“I am heartbroken to hear of Jill’s passing, she was such a kind, compassionate and all around beautiful person.”

Fundraising organiser Sandy Taylor described the emergency nurse as an “unsung hero” and “much loved” team member.

“This pandemic has taken its toll on everyone, but none more so than our beloved Jilly and her family,” she wrote.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (Victorian branch) also paid tribute, and acknowledged her colleagues’ “difficult days ahead”.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts we acknowledge the death of Angliss Hospital emergency department nurse Jill Dempsey, they said in a statement late on Tuesday.

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

The union said it was a reminder at how vulnerable health workers were on the pandemic frontline.

“We acknowledge their bravery and courage,” the ANMF said.

“We have been very fortunate, despite a large number of nurses testing positive. This is something we feared and a sobering reminder that nurses, midwives and all healthcare workers are on the pandemic frontline.

“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.”

Jill Dempsey had worked at the hospital since 2007. Picture: Supplied

The union urged the Victorian community to take Covid 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,” it said.

Ms Dempsey was a hard working and beloved night shift nurse in the emergency department, Eastern Health said in a statement.

She is survived by husband Michael and their three children.

“The board, executive and staff of Eastern Health mourn the sad death of our colleague and friend Gillian ‘Jill’ Dempsey,” Eastern Health said.

“Her colleagues speak highly of the care, warmth and compassion that Jill demonstrated every day.

“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.”