We're In Safe Hands

Nurse with 40 years’ experience comes out of retirement to head UK’s new mega hospital Beds ready as other venues across the UK are considered for emergency facilities

- Jilly Beattie, Paul Byrne, Adam Aspinall and Jeremy Armstrong

A retired nurse is going back to work to head up the new Nightingale Hospital that will care for thousands of patients.

Deirdre Barr, 62, has been appointed director of operations at the newly established ExCel national emergency medical centre in East London. She called her sister Dolores to break the news, telling her: “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be grand. I want you to stay safe, stay home and keep washing your hands, love.”

Deirdre, of Derry, Northern Ireland, is a former St John Ambulance cadet who went on to dedicate 40 years of her life to the NHS.

Now she is leaving her home in Kent to get back on the front line. Sister Dolores, 74, said: “This is a massive job, and we’re scared for Deirdre, but we are so very proud that she has taken it on. If anyone can do this, Deirdre can. She’s always been the one person her whole family turns to in times of trouble and sickness.

“Now the whole of the UK will be turning to her. She’ll handle it well. She has broad shoulders and never shirks from responsibility.