Hundreds of NHS staff have said goodbye to one of their colleagues today, after her funeral procession drove through the hospital grounds.

In emotional scenes, workers at Arrowe Park formed a guard of honour outside the hospital before breaking into a spontaneous round of applause as a silver hearse took Julie Penfold to her final resting place.

Wirral Globe: A guard of honour greets the funeral procession of former nurse Julie Penfold. Photo: Richard GarnettA guard of honour greets the funeral procession of former nurse Julie Penfold. Photo: Richard Garnett

The former outpatients nurse had been on a career break when she contracted coronavirus before passing away in the hospital where she worked on April 19. She was 53.

Julie was a mother figure to many with two daughters, a son, an adopted daughter, two stepdaughters and 11 grandchildren; and with husband Nick, had also fostered more than 20 children. She also had a son and daughter who sadly passed away.

Wirral Globe: Staff working on the wards pay their respects from the hospital windows. Photo: Richard GarnettStaff working on the wards pay their respects from the hospital windows. Photo: Richard Garnett

A book of condolence is being set up in the Chapel at Arrowe Park Hospital for colleagues who wish to pay tribute to Julie and there will also be an in memoriam photograph placed in Outpatients where she worked.

So far, 196 people who tested positive for Covid-19 have died at Wirral University Teaching Hospital.

Wirral Globe: Julie Penfold. Photo: Wirral University Teaching HospitalJulie Penfold. Photo: Wirral University Teaching Hospital