Colleagues have paid tribute to Neath Port Talbot Hospital worker who died after testing positive for coronavirus.

Helen Mills, who lived in Port Talbot, started her healthcare career working for Homecare. She joined NHS Wales in 2005 as a health care support worker at Groeswen, then worked at Cimla and Neath Port Talbot Hospitals as a physiotherapy assistant. In 2008, she joined the Minor Injury Unit team at Neath Port Talbot Hospital as a health care support worker.

Her colleagues at the Minor Injury Unit described Helen, aged 56, as very caring, kind and a well-respected member of the MIU family. She always provided excellent care to the many thousands of patients she met during her career. Her dry sense of humour brought much happiness and laughter to the team.

Colleagues at the hospital said:

“Although her loss has brought great sadness to us, the memories of Helen will never be forgotten. We will always be grateful for the significant contribution she made, and for the rays of happiness she brought to both fellow staff and patients.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband Chris, daughters Kaylie and Kate and her grandchildren, at this difficult time.”