A family fear their medical worker loved one died of Covid-19 after catching the illness at work.

An inquest into the death of Angela Holmes heard how the 53-year-old passed away on Boxing Day last year.

The surgical pathway co-ordinator had worked at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham for more than a decade.

Coroner Sonia Hayes was told the mum was admitted to hospital on December 12 with breathing problems.

This was six days after testing positive and when she experienced confusion and had a high respiratory rate.

She was sent to ICU the next day.

Consultant Dr Nikhil Bhatia said although Angela was "on the maximum treatment" and ventilated, she unfortunately deteriorated.

He said: "I do not think at any point of time she was making too much of an improvement."

Angela, of Devon Close, Rainham, had type 2 diabetes and a high BMI meaning she would have been an increased risk.

Her family raised concerns she may have caught the virus at the hospital and she would have preferred to work from home.

However, the trust said her onsite duties were vital and she was classed as a key worker.

It added she did not raise concerns about coming to work.

Mrs Hayes submitted this to evidence but acknowledged it was not clear either way whether she had raised concerns or not.

Liam Edwards is deputy chief nurse at the hospital but was not working there in December.

He said employees would have been wearing PPE and following guidelines although he confirmed they changed regularly but employees would have been notified.

The trust's solicitor John Sheath said it was possible Angela contracted the virus at work but impossible to be certain.

Mrs Hayes said the Kent variant, which was prevalent at the time, was "increased in the hospital environment" and Angela would have dealt with people who were in contact with infected patients.

"It is a testament to the person she was that she continued to go to work..."

She said "It is possible she contracted Covid at work" but added it was not because of culpable human failure.

She stated the hospital provided the maximum medical care it could with Angela receiving every treatment available.

She concluded: "It is a testament to the person she was that she continued to go to work.

"She was one of a team of people who carried out very vital work."

Her cause of death was ruled as natural causes from Covid-19 pneumonia.

Following the inquest at County Hall, Maidstone, the trust released a statement.

Its chief executive Dr George Findlay said: "I’d like to offer Angela’s family my deepest and most sincere condolences on their loss.

"Angela was a popular colleague as well as a key member of her team, who provided an essential role for the hospital during the pandemic.

"Her tragic death has been deeply felt by everyone who knew her at the trust."

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