City backing for Yorkshire Evening Post's campaign to celebrate our health heroes

Today the Yorkshire Evening Post, has been joined by sister titles across JPI Media, in launching a special celebration of NHS staff and keyworkers.

With pictures and anecdotes of how staff are going above and beyond every day, we have been inundated with stories of sadness, courage and community.

We will continue to tell those stories during our coverage of the coronavirus pandemic and this celebration of our own #healthheroes has been shared around the city.

"I’d like to say a special thank you to the Yorkshire Evening Post for highlighting our #HealthHeroes, the city’s local paper championing a local cause and highlighting just some of the many heroes we’ve got working round the clock. The Yorkshire Evening Post has shown that it can continue to provide an essential news service, can rightly hold us to account but also be there for us when we need you."

Mr Ryley also had a simple, but serious message, as we head into the Easter bank holiday weekend while doctors and nurses battle to treat coronavirus patients.

As of last night (Wednesday) there were 389 confirmed coronavirus cases in the city.

He added: "The coronavirus pandemic is having and sadly will continue to have a human toll, we want everyone to support each other at this time. As we head towards the Easter weekend it’s important that I remind people to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. Thank you from me, my colleagues and I’m sure the wider health and care system.”

Hilary Benn, the MP for Leeds Central said the city will be "forever grateful".

He said: "Congratulations to the YEP on your campaign to express our heartfelt thanks to all those people who are working so hard to look after us, keep essential services going and save lives. From NHS staff to community volunteers, and from council staff to care workers, we will forever be grateful to you.”

The MP for Leeds North East, Fabian Hamilton added: "NHS staff truly are the best of us. Every day they are putting their own health at risk to protect others. This virus does not discriminate against who it infects and makes seriously ill, regardless of age or circumstance - it really can affect anyone.

"In such difficult and worrying times, it’s so important that our communities come together - as they already have - to celebrate the vital work our health heroes do everyday. I’d like to thank all the key workers that are still going into work day in day out to keep us safe, alongside our community leaders and Leeds City Council who are doing an outstanding job in organising local volunteers and ensuring the most vulnerable are shielded from this dreadful virus.”