North Cumbria Integrated Care have paid tribute to Sister Delaney who died in a crash.

Sister Melissa Delaney, worked on the Intensive Care Unit at the Cumberland Infirmary and died in a road traffic accident on Tuesday, February 13.

The North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) trust have shared a heartfelt tribute and have sent their condolences to Melissa’s husband, children and her many colleagues and friends at the Trust.

The tribute to Melissa follows.

“The whole of NCIC Trust and particularly the Intensive Care Unit family were devastated to hear the news last week (February 13) that Melissa Delaney one of the Unit’s Sisters had tragically died following a road traffic accident.

“Mel was travelling to work to start a shift doing the job she loved. Mel’s whole career as a qualified nurse was spent working on the Intensive Care Unit at the Cumberland Infirmary starting in 2006.

“She became a Sister in 2021. Mel was incredibly proud to work on Intensive Care and represented the Trust impeccably.

“As a nurse, care was at the core of what she represented. Mel had a huge heart and the outpouring of emotion from colleagues, friends and family alike show how much she was loved and respected by so many.

“She was a strong and a vocal advocate on the unit for our patients and what she felt was right, never shying away from a challenge and always willing to stand up for her beliefs.

“She had an amazing sense of humour and was rarely seen without a smile on her face; a constant source of craic within the team and coffee room discussions.

“She was so incredibly proud of her family, Stuart, Niamh and Erin and frequently talked about her love for them alongside her pride in their achievements. Our thoughts are particularly with them at this horrendous time, we are all thinking of them.

“Referring to ICU as a family is for many of us exactly what work represents. Mel dealt with working on the front line during the pandemic with her typical stoicism and humour and was an integral part of the team surviving those times.

“During those years, we certainly saw more of each other at work than we did our own extended families and she helped to support many through what was an incredibly challenging time emotionally for staff, patients and their families alike.

“Her kindness and love towards staff, patients and families was palpable, tears were frequently shed but she remained strong and a support to us all. Sometimes it can be hard for friends and family to truly understand what happens within our workplace or what our roles entail.

“Please know that Mel was an incredible nurse, held the respect of everyone, the outpouring of emotion at her loss has been huge and shows how much she meant to so many.

“The ICU team, are thankful and grateful to receive support from so many members of the Trust over the past week. Receiving cards of condolence from so many different areas within the organisation, visits and comments from previous colleagues and people who worked with Mel. Certainly a mark of how loved and respected she was.

“Our thoughts are with all her friends and family at this dreadful time, she leaves a hole at the heart of our team and many are struggling to see how it could ever be repaired. The grief may, in time subside but she will never be forgotten and will remain forever as part of our family.

“Somehow, as colleagues we have to make sure the care of our patients continues without her as she would have wanted but we are diminished by her death. As one ex-colleague said in a condolence card to the team, Mel was a force of nature. She truly was.”