Watch as Sunderland and South Tyneside NHS workers perform uplifting cover of Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Despite facing unprecedented pressure due to the coronavirus outbreak, NHS staff took time out of their busy days last week to record a special cover of the uplifting classic Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

The heartwarming video shows doctors, nurses and support staff from across South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust - including those battling the virus on the frontline – perform a beautiful rendition of the song, originally performed by Judy Garland in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.

Watch the full video here

Many of the key workers featured are holding up rainbows, banners and messages of thanks for the NHS.

The rainbow has become a symbol of hope during the current crisis, with many residents displaying them along with messages of thanks for NHS staff in their windows.

The video was organised by colleagues Sarah Fenwick and Jill Lucas, unit manager at Durham Treatment Centre, in a bid to put a smile on people’s faces during these challenging times.

Chief executive of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS, Ken Bremner – who previously praised the ‘incredible job’ of staff – also appears in the video, commenting on the “amazing talent” within the trust.

As of Saturday, April 18, 181 people who were being treated for coronavirus at hospitals within the trust’s area have sadly died.

A total of 797 have tested positive for the virus in Sunderland, with 291 cases confirmed within South Tyneside.

Click here for live coronavirus updates

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