Tributes have been paid to Southend Hospital medical director and consultant breast surgeon Neil Rothnie. 

The hospital praised him as a dedicated and hard-working member of the team as hospital bosses confirmed he had sadly passed. 

The hospital insisted that there is "no reason to believe" that his death is Covid-19 related. 

Chief Executive Clare Panniker said: “Neil was a much-loved, dedicated and hard-working member of the team. He was with us in the hospital on Saturday, leading from the front.

“Our thoughts are with his family.”

In a statement sent to staff by Ms Panniker and managing director, Yvonne Blucher, the hospital said: "It is with extreme sadness that we have to share the news that our Medical Director, Neil Rothnie, died last night.

"Neil will be hugely missed. A hard-working and committed doctor, he was with is in the hospital on Saturday, leading from the front."

Mr Rothnie was one of the kindest, most caring indiviudals who will be remembered fondly as consultant breast cancer surgeon at the hospital, treating many people who have suffered breast cancer. 

According to his biography on the hospital's website, he qualified as a doctor from St Bartholomew's Hospital in London in 1981. He undertook postgraduate surgical training in and around London, including a stint as a surgical registrar at Southend Hospital in the 1980's.

A period in cancer research at Bristol Royal Infirmary and the Royal Free Hospital led to the award of a Master of Surgery degree from the University of London.

He was a senior registrar at St Bartholomew's Hospital prior to his appointment as a consultant general surgeon at Southend Hospital in 1994.

Neil established the specialist Breast Unit at Southend and developed the 'open access' hernia service. He is the director of screening for South Essex Breast Screening Service and lead clinician for breast services.

He has spent 16 years as the surgical lead to the Regional Quality Assurance team for the NHS Breast Screening Programme and has chaired the National Breast Screening Audit for the last five years.

Mr Rothnie was appointed as Medical Director in December 2012.