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NHS England thanks nurses who cared for poisoned ex-spy Sergei Skripal

Tributes to nurses who rose to the challenge of caring for patients in the aftermath of nerve agent attack
fire officers in protective clothing

Tributes to nurses who rose to the challenge of caring for patients in the aftermath of nerve agent attack


Salisbury District Hospital. Picture: Alamy

Nurses who helped save the lives of the three people poisoned in the Salisbury nerve agent attack in March have been thanked for their 'skills, compassion and dedication'.

Mr Skripal was today discharged from Salisbury District Hospital after more than two months. His daughter Yulia Skripal and Wiltshire police officer Nick Bailey were also exposed to the nerve agent but had shorter hospital stays.

NHS England medical director Steve Powis said: 'I would like to thank the nurses, doctors, and all the other staff whose skills, compassion and dedication have saved the lives of Yulia and Sergei Skripal and detective sergeant Nick Bailey.

‘Timely reminder of world-class treatment’

'As we prepare to mark the NHS's 70th anniversary, their remarkable recovery is a timely reminder that world-class treatment and care is available at local hospitals throughout the country.'

Salisbury District Hospital director of nursing Lorna Wilkinson said: 'We have been able to discharge Sergei Skripal. This is an important stage in his recovery, which will now take place away from the hospital.


Nursing director Lorna Wilkinson.

'Treating him and the other two people poisoned by this nerve agent, while still providing outstanding care to the other patients who rely on our hospital, has been a huge and unprecedented challenge that I’m proud our staff at Salisbury Hospital have risen to.'

Outstanding care

The hospital's chief executive Cara Charles-Barks, said Mr Skripal's discharge was 'fantastic news'.

She said: 'That he, Yulia and DS Bailey have been able to leave us so soon after coming into contact with this nerve agent is thanks to the hard work, skill and professionalism of our clinicians, who provide outstanding care to all our patients, day in and day out.

'This has been a difficult time for those caught up in this incident – the patients, our staff and the people of Salisbury.

'I want to thank the public for their support, and I want to pay a special tribute to the clinical staff here at the trust and those who work so hard behind the scenes. They’ve demonstrated the best of the NHS.'

Detectives from the UK's Counter Terrorism Policing network continue to investigate the attempted murders.


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