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The tribute came from the Wye Valley NHS Trust’s managing director, who also said the trust, which runs Hereford County Hospital, was improving how it supports staff.

She was speaking after the results of the annual NHS staff survey, which revealed the trust’s results were better than the national average in seven out of the 10 key themes in the survey, including equality and diversity, health and wellbeing, immediate managers, morale, safe environment, staff engagement, and team working.

NHS staff at Hereford County Hospital have been praised for their work during the last 12 months of coronavirus

Managing director Jane Ives said: “There’s no doubt this has been the toughest year any of us have experienced and I can’t say how proud I am of the way Team WVT rallied together in the face of some huge challenges during the last 12 months.

“Colleagues have shown grit, determination, compassion and dedication, to ensure local people received great services despite the extra pressure of caring for a number of very sick Covid patients.”

Between March 19, 2020 and March 3, 2021, 735 patients were either admitted to the Wye Valley NHS Trust with coronavirus, or diagnosed after admission.

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Ms Ives said some staff had moved to different departments, while some were shielding or working from home, so it had been a “turbulent year”.

The survey revealed 44 per cent of the 542 staff who responded to the 2020 survey said they had felt unwell in the past 12 months as a result of work-related stress – up from 37 per cent a year earlier.

The survey showed 23 per cent of staff were considering leaving the NHS, and the proportion satisfied with their pay fell to 38 per cent, down from 42 per cent.