NHS 'legends' killed by coronavirus: 84-year-old nurse who was STILL doing the night shift dies from virus along with 78-year-old who'd spent 50 years caring for patients

Two older health workers still caring for patients into their 70s and 80s have both died on the same day of coronavirus.

Great-grandmother Margaret Tapley was working as an auxiliary nurse at the age of 84 and hailed as ‘a legend on the ward’.

Sophie Fagan, 78, had served the NHS for more than five decades, starting as a nurse before becoming a hospital care co-ordinator.

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Ms Tapley's heartbroken granddaughter said her grandmother was like 'an additional parent'

Both were helping patients well past retirement age before passing away on Sunday.

Mrs Tapley had continued her night shifts at Witney Community Hospital in Oxfordshire and worked the last one of her 40-year career on April 10.

Her family said she had been suffering symptoms before being admitted to the Great Western Hospital in Swindon three days before her death.

Her grandson Tom Wood, a senior A&E nurse, said she inspired him to go into healthcare.

Ms Tapley's granddaughter Hannah Tapley, a champion high jumper who has competed for team GB, said her grandmother would text and call her everyday

‘She took huge pride in her work but was so humble,’ he added. ‘She embodied the nursing spirit. I struggle with one or two night shifts but grandma routinely did three a week.’

Mrs Tapley’s granddaughter Hannah Tapley said: ‘She was the most hard-working, caring and perfect woman. Devoting her life to others and working for the NHS doing night shifts at her age.’

Stuart Bell, chief executive at Oxford Health trust, said: ‘She was a legend on the ward and throughout the whole hospital.’ 

Mrs Fagan began nursing in 1966 and had been working since 2000 as a care co-ordinator at Homerton Hospital in East London, where she died.

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 Mrs Fagan began nursing in 1966 and had been working since 2000 as a care co-ordinator at Homerton Hospital in East London

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Sophie Fagan, front row second left, arrived from India in 1961 to begin her nurse training. She has died aged 78 after contracting coronavirus. Picture: Homerton Hospital

Tracey Fletcher, trust chief executive, said: ‘Sophie wanted to make a difference and caring for the elderly was her passion.

‘Her taste for the brightest and most colourful jumpers, her elegance and her ability to talk to anyone made her stand out.’

Daughter-in-law Deni Fagan said she was dedicated to her son John and grandson Jack, 16.

She described Mrs Fagan as ‘a fit and healthy lady who just loved life, nothing would have stopped her from working.

‘She just refused to give up her job....despite her age. It goes to show what kind of lady she was. We are really very proud of her.’

Acute care nurse Michael Allieu, 53, became the second worker at the Homerton to die from the virus over the weekend.

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Homerton Hospital nurse Michael Allieu, who has died after contracting coronavirus

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The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust confirmed the death of Patrick McManus, a nurse at Stafford's County Hospital

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Joanna Klenczon a 34-year-old domestic supervisor who worked at the Northampton General Hospital (NGH) for 10 years before her death on April 9 after contracting Covid-19

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NHS healthcare assistant Chrissy Emerson who died after testing positive for coronavirus. She worked at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, Norfolk

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Occupational therapist Vivek Sharma who died on Friday after becoming ill with Covid-19