A NORTH-EAST nurse who helped treat numerous patients seriously injured in the London Bridge terror attack has spoken of her pride in the professionalism of her team.

Nicola Rudkin, from Darlington, is matron of the adult critical care unit at the Royal London Hospital, where 12 injured victims were taken on Saturday night.

The 36-year-old was not on duty, but when she saw the events unfolding on the news she made her way to work to support her team.

She was joined by anaesthetic nurse Natalie Poole, of Durham, who walked the remaining two miles to work after getting a taxi from her home in Battersea.

One she arrived, Miss Rudkin immediately began to put into place the hospital’s major incident plan.

She said: “Although trauma is what we do, the nature of the incident and the mechanism of the injuries that were sustained by the victims was quite different to what we see ordinarily and that made it quite difficult for our staff because it was a highly emotive situation.

“I was incredibly proud by the phenomenal teamwork and how they reacted calmly and professionally in those circumstances, making sure they were keeping everybody safe – including the victims themselves – and supporting their families.”

Miss Rudkin, who attended Hummersknott School in Darlington, has lived in London for about 13 years – and Saturday’s events brought back memories of her very first week at the hospital when she helped victims of the London 7/7 bombings.

She said: “In terms of the shock and the feelings that an incident like this brings it was very similar to 7/7 because it’s an attack on our community, the city where I live now and our neighbours.

“You’re trying to deal with your own emotions, yet trying to be professional and delivering care as you would in any other circumstances.”

Both North-East nurses met Prince Charles when he and the Duchess of Cornwall visited the hospital on Tuesday. He told the workers: “I have so much admiration for all you are doing, it’s a fantastic team.”

Charles told staff at the adult critical care unit who thanked him for visiting: “It was the least I could do.”

Six of the injured patients were taken into surgery in the immediate aftermath of the attack.

Miss Rudkin said the Royal visit was “really special” and important for the morale of the team.

Staff told how passers-by had stopped to help as the incident unfolded, at times simply by talking to the victims to keep them conscious.

Camilla said: “It’s Britain at its best isn’t it? Everybody pulls together, there doesn’t seem to be any panic.”

She added: “Everybody gets on and does their job. Patients were in the best possible hands.”

Among those who met the royals were Dr Chris Lambert and paramedic Tracy Porter, who were called to the north end of the bridge as reports of the attack emerged.

Speaking afterwards, Dr Lambert said: “In a way we see those kind of injuries every day, but obviously not in such great numbers and in such a sort of intense, emotional scene with so much else going on.”