'I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF NHS'
Junior doctor, 25, fights back tears as she recalls how she rushed to treat injured cop in chaos of Westminster atrocity
A BRAVE junior doctor who helped save victims of the London terror attack yesterday said she was proud to be part of the NHS as the service pulled together in the face of adversity.
Colleen Anderson, 25, fought back tears as she spoke to reporters outside St Thomas's Hospital, just yards from Westminster Bridge where a maniac mowed down dozens of innocent people in a 4x4 before stabbing PC Keith Palmer to death.
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Anderson said she treated another policeman, believed to be in his 30s, with a head injury who was taken to the nearby King's College Hospital.
Describing the way staff banded together, she said: "I've said it before and I will say it again. I couldn't be more proud to be a part of the NHS."
Colleen added: "The events of today were devastating to many, and my thoughts are with all those who have suffered."
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Police have since named the terrorist as 52-year-old Khalid Masood.
The doctor, who works for Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and is believed to be from County Durham, said some victims had "catastrophic" injuries.
She said: "I was there doing anything that I could, just like everyone else there.
"Days like these bring people together. No act is too small."
Shortly after midnight, she told her friends on Facebook: "I wish I could reply to everyone who has sent such lovely messages to me."
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Speaking to reporters, she said there had been "one definite fatality" and said she had treated a policeman with a "massive laceration" to his head, a broken leg and possible internal injuries.
She said: "I've walked past about nine injuries, but some weren't so insignificant. Somebody was unconscious who did regain consciousness and was OK.
"I was just in shock to be honest, I wasn't really expecting that this afternoon. I was on the ward and our doctors' office is just there, and my SHO (senior house officer) came running past me and I was like 'what's wrong' and he told me what happened.
"And then I went out and looked and all of us in the office were like 'we need to do something'.
"So we all just went out and helped, got blankets and physios were with me. I wasn't expecting that this afternoon."
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The brave doc appeared shaken but said medics were trained in how to triage victims and provide basic life support in such events.
Another trainee doctor - who was off-duty at the time - was said to be the first medic on the scene, running to the aid of both PC Keith Palmer and the attacker.
Jeeves Wijesuriya, chairman of the BMA junior doct0rs' committee, later said on Twitter: "Home safe. Humbled by incredible efforts of paramedics, Met police & Hems. Thoughts with those in hospitals tonight receiving & giving care."
He told at the scene: "I heard the screaming so ran to help and the police ran me in."
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"Hems [helicopter emergency services], paramedics and police were incredible as we tried to save both the officer and the assailant.
"We spent some time trying to resuscitate them both."
The doc is believed to be training as a GP at Homerton Hospital in east London.
Tributes have been pouring in for the victims of yesterday's attack after two of them were named as PC Keith Palmer and mum-of-two Aysha Frade.
Tory MP Tobias Ellwood gave PC Palmer mouth-to-mouth and CPR as he tried to revive him, but the 48-year-old dad tragically died.
A minute's silence was held in the House of Commons this morning as MPs determined to put on a show of defiance swent about their normal business.
A third victim - said to be a man in his 50s - has not yet been named.
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The fourth person to die was the attacker, who was shot after he fatally stabbed PC Palmer outside the entrance to the Houses of Parliament.
It has since emerged he was shot by defence minister Michael Fallon's security guard, not armed cops.
Police said eight people have been arrested following the horror attack following raids on addresses in Birmingham, London and elsewhere overnight.
Cops also confirmed the attacker was inspired by “Islamic terrorism” and had been investigated for violent extremism by MI5.
NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens praised brave staff at an event today.
He said: "The fact is that this was not just paramedics and ambulance crew but staff from St Thomas' Hospital running across Westminster Bridge into potential danger.
"I think that really demonstrates not only the professional skill of all our staff across the NHS but also immense personal bravery."
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, said: "I would like to thank all staff who were involved in the response to the terrible event yesterday.
"The trust's major incident procedures have worked well, and there has been an excellent response from both clinical and non-clinical staff. My thoughts are with all affected by this appalling tragedy."
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