Health · Healthcare & Policy · 2 hrs ago
Nurse who treated Bradford fire victims to retire after 44 years
Angela O’Neill will retire on 31 October after 44 years at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
She is believed to be the last nurse still working at the trust who helped treat victims of the Bradford City Football Club fire.
The fire broke out at Valley Parade in West Yorkshire during a match on 11 May 1985, killing 56 spectators and injuring at least 265.
O’Neill was off duty but joined colleagues at Bradford Royal Infirmary to help care for people with burns.
She also worked on a trauma ward in the weeks and months afterward, helping survivors recover from burns, fractures and life-changing injuries.
The disaster led to stricter safety standards at UK stadiums, including a ban on building new wooden grandstands.
O’Neill went on to build a career in trauma and orthopaedic nursing, and will complete her final shift at the trust’s outpatient clinic.
Angela O’Neill, one of the last nurses to care for victims of the Bradford City fire, is retiring after 44 years of service.
She is believed to be the last nurse still working at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust who helped care for the victims.
O’Neill responded to the fire at Bradford Royal Infirmary and later cared for survivors with burns, fractures and life-changing injuries.
The fire at Valley Parade stadium on 11 May 1985 killed 56 spectators and injured at least 265.
Her final shift at the trust’s trauma and orthopaedics outpatients clinic is scheduled for 31 October.
- Who
- Angela O’Neill, a nurse at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
- What
- She is retiring after 44 years of service.
- When
- Her final shift is scheduled for 31 October. The article does not state the year.
- Where
- Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Bradford, West Yorkshire.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
O’Neill qualified as a state enrolled nurse.
O’Neill joined colleagues responding to the Bradford City fire and later cared for survivors.
O’Neill converted to become a registered general nurse.
O’Neill was diagnosed with breast cancer, underwent treatment and returned to work.
O’Neill was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer and continued to balance treatment with work.
O’Neill is scheduled to complete her final shift at the trust.
- Length of service
- 44 years
- Fire date
- 11 May 1985
- Deaths
- 56 spectators
- Injured
- At least 265 people
- Final shift
- 31 October
- Current clinic
- Trauma and orthopaedics outpatients clinic
What people are saying
Everybody came together and the camaraderie between patients and staff was amazing
It was chaos – because of the number of staff and people in the department – but organised chaos as the team leaders were brilliant and the teamwork was second to none.
Sources
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