‘No fewer than 64 people came to give blood - a wonderful response’

THE dramatic scenes in Stockport Infirmary were described by the matron, Miss Marjorie Dalton, a consultant surgeon, and Mr A House, the hospital administrative officer at a press conference days after the crash.

Immediately on the news of the crash the whole of Holden ward was cleared and the hospital’s major accident unit went into operation.

The unit is headed by the senior orthopaedic surgeon and by an amazing coincidence, he was on his way to the hospital and passing the crash scene so he was able to make an immediate assessment of the situation.

“Everybody acted in a wonderful way,” said the matron.

By 10.45am, additional staff was arriving and staff from other hospitals came and volunteered as well as other people. Many were ex-nurses.

Miss Dalton said morale was high in the ward and the 11 survivors still in hospital were making good recoveries.

The survivors had received lots of letters and the hospital itself had received telegrams of good wishes to the patients. The surgeon said that some of the patients were still having sedatives ‘as and when necessary’.

Both operating theatres had been in full use from 2pm to 9pm. Nine patients had emergency operations, with the air hostess undergoing major surgery.

“No fewer than 64 people came to the hospital to volunteer to give blood. Although we had sufficient and we directed them to the blood bank.

“I think it was a wonderful response from the public,” Mr House said.