Tributes have been paid to a cherished grandmother who worked at a Norfolk hospital, following her death due to coronavirus.

Christine Emerson, also known as Chrissie, worked as a healthcare assistant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn and has been remembered as a much-loved wife, mother and grandmother.

The hospital’s chief executive Caroline Shaw and chairman Steve Barnett paid tribute to Mrs Emerson in a statement on Monday.

The hospital said: “Everyone at QEH is today coming to terms with the devastating news that one of our own healthcare assistants has died after testing positive for COVID-19. The whole family at QEH is deeply saddened at losing Chrissie Emerson who was such a valued colleague, and much-loved wife to Michael and cherished mother and grandmother.

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“We have been in touch with Chrissie’s family to extend our condolences on behalf of everyone at QEH and to offer appropriate support.

“We have informed our staff about this upsetting news and offered support to those who knew and worked closely with Chrissie. We have a range of support and counselling services available to our staff to support them during this incredibly difficult time during which we continue to focus on delivering safe care to our patients and maximising support for our staff who are working in conditions that are difficult and challenging for everyone.”

James Wild, MP for North West Norfolk, paid tribute on Twitter: “This is incredibly sad news and my thoughts are with Mrs Emerson’s family and friends. This is a tragic reminder of the terrible impact of this virus & I want pay tribute to her dedication and that of everyone working at @TeamQEH to care for others.”

The Norfolk and Eastern branches of the Royal College of Nursing paid tribute on social media and asked the public to join in the RCN’s minute’s silence at 11am on April 28 in memory of all health care and key workers who have died.

Teresa Budrey, RCN Eastern Regional Director, said: “RCN Eastern sends its condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of all health care workers who have lost their lives during the coronavirus pandemic. Our thoughts are with all those affected by these devastating losses.”

Chrissie’s death was among 11 new ones reported at Norfolk’s hospitals.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn reported five patients - three men in their 90s, another in his 60s and a woman in her 80s - had died after testing positive for the virus.

The number of people who have died in Norfolk stands at 186.

At the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, three more men have died from the virus, one on April 19 and two on April 18. A hospital spokesman confirmed three men, two in their 70s and one in his 80s had died.

The James Paget University Hospital said a further three people had died, taking the total from 55 to 58 deaths at the hospital since the start of the pandemic.

A spokesman said: “The patients who died were a woman in her 80s, a man in his 70s and a man in his 90s, all of whom had underlying health conditions.”

Nationally, there have been 49 verified deaths of NHS staff so far.