NHS staff across north Cumbria have been inundated with touching messages of thanks from their communities for all they have done through the Covid-19 pandemic.

To underline the appreciation it has for all those who have worked tirelessly to meet the challenges brought by Covid-19, the North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) NHS Foundation Trust has been running virtual "festival of thanks" this week.

The three day festival has given the trust, which runs the Cumberland Infirmary, West Cumberland Hospital and a number of north Cumbrian community hospitals the opportunity to celebrate the hard work, dedication and commitment staff have shown throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

As part of this festival, the trust has been fielding messages from residents across the north of the county, which carry heartfelt sentiments of appreciation for all that has been done by staff going above and beyond in response to the unprecedented challenge of Covid-19.

Some staff members have been thanked personally.

One was Saima Afzal, occupational therapist at the West Cumberland Hospital.

"The patient was recently on ward 3a," the message read.

"She described her time initially going through the hospital system as scary but when she met you, you were warm, caring and took time to help her come to terms with her condition."

Saima's "big smile" was praised for making difference in a frightening time.

"She loved that you took time to find meaningful activities for her to complete between rehab sessions and the wonderful breakfast club – all of which have helped her tremendously getting back to feeling like herself again."

Some of the messages praised entire teams, such as all those at Accident and Emergency at the Cumberland Infirmary, the audiology department, the north Cumbria respiratory team, and many others, including the neurology department, which was thanked by one patient for being "extremely helpful during an extremely difficult time."

Some of the messages were particularly heartfelt, such as the following from a family member of a recent patient at the Cumberland Infirmary, who sadly died, addressed simply to a staff member named Simon.

"My father in law passed away with you on the 19th in the early hours of the morning in intensive care," the message read.

"I would like to thank you, Simon and the nurse who was with you for the way you treated us all.

"To do the job you all do and still have the time to talk with such care and compassion to relatives is really something else.

"Although it is sad we didn’t see him before he passed away, I know it was for the best and seeing him like we did will be a better last memory.

"Thank you for what you all do, all your hard work in the most difficult times, your compassion and dedication. Thankfully in the darkest times there are people like you."