A ‘vaccine hesitant’ NHS worker has tragically died with Covid just days after she decided to get the jab.
Fila Lutu was 37 years old and expressed concern over the vaccine, after she had reportedly experienced adverse reactions to previous jabs.
However, the Covid-19 support administrator from Chadwell Heath, east London changed her mind after the Government unveiled plans to force NHS staff to get vaccinated before April or get sacked.
Unfortunately Miss Lutu, who was tested positive in December, died several days later from complications caused by the virus.
Her devastated family were prevented from travelling with her in the ambulance on the way to the hospital due to strict Covid rules – meaning the NHS worker passed away before they could say goodbye.
Fila Lutu (37), expressed concern about vaccines after suffering adverse reactions to other disease jabs.
After the Government revealed plans to make it compulsory for NHS staff to be vaccinated by April 2022, or to fire them entirely, the NHS Covid-19 support administrator has changed her mind.
Miss Lutu joined North Middlesex University Hospital as a staff nurse in July 2020. A year later, she became an employee relations officer.
The hospital trust is planning to build a bench in dedication to her ‘amazing’ impact on the community, Essex Live reported.
Lauren created a GoFundMe account to cover funeral costs. Setting a £2,000 target, the crowdfunder has raised more than £6,000, and the excess funds will be donated to North Middlesex University Hospital’s charity.
On Friday, February 14, Miss Lutu, was laid to repose at City Gate Church in Ilford. Her coffin was then taken to City Gate Church, Ilford in a white carriage. Doves were also released.
In July 2020 Miss Lutu began working at North Middlesex University Hospital. She was then promoted to Employee Relations Officer one year later.
The funeral for Miss Lutu took place Friday January 14th at City Gate Church, Ilford
Born in Congo, the NHS worker felt unwell after she returned from France in December 12th. Later, she was diagnosed with Covid. Her symptoms got worse.
Lauren, Lauren’s younger sister said she had difficulty eating for five days.
She told local media that she found Miss Lutu experiencing cold sweats and crying ‘God help me’ as she suffered chest pains.
Lauren was told by her mom and paramedics to have an ECG read.
Due to Covid strict restrictions, the NHS worker was taken to King George Hospital in Ilford.
Lauren and Miss Lutu said their farewells to Lauren’s mother and then returned home, unaware that this would be the last goodbye.
On December 19, Miss Lutu called from her hospital room to inform her mother that her pain medication was no longer helping.
Later that day, Miss Lutu’s mother was told her daughter was being transferred to a London hospital before she went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated.
Lauren, her elder brother, and their mom rushed to the hospital, where they waited for a report on Fila.
Christopher, age 28, and Jessie (24), waited patiently at their home while they were there. They received devastating news about their mother’s passing around 30 minutes later.
Lauren said: ‘One of them had tears in her eyes and I just knew. They sat and started with “We did everything we could”.
‘When I heard that I was like “no”. She cried and fell to the ground. My mum was crying so hard that her eyes became puffy. If I cried anymore, I felt like I would have exploded.’
Christopher said: ‘It was just very traumatising, it just felt so real, very painful.’
George Agass, head of Communications, Engagement and Fundraising at North Mid Hospital, said: ‘Fila was exceedingly well-loved by her close colleagues at North Mid, and impressed everyone she worked with on different projects with her kindness, her positivity, and her selflessness.
‘It’s incredibly cruel that she has been taken away far too early, and in line with her faith, we ask for God’s blessing for her and all her family and friends.
Her family were prevented from travelling with her in the ambulance on the way to the hospital due to Covid rules – meaning the NHS worker passed away before they could say goodbye
‘Fila’s team described her as exceptionally caring, and that she was always bright, and could light up the room with her kindness.
‘So it felt fitting to commemorate her too-short life with something that could continue to provide support and space to reflect, rest, and recover, which is why we plan to install and dedicate a memorial bench in Fila’s name.’
Her brother, Christopher, added: ‘When we heard about the bench we were happy to know that she had continued leaving a positive impact wherever she went.
‘So to hear that the hospital wanted to make a bench for her was just a reminder that she had left such a good impression there in a short time as she had only been working there for a year.
‘She was always smiling through every situation.
‘When she was having her own struggles and difficulties in life, she would always just keep on smiling and always trying to encourage every single one of us.
‘A lot of my siblings would always go to her for advice and she’d always just be there, giving as much effort as possible because she always liked helping other people.’