Witney nurse Margaret Tapley died after contracting coronavirus

Margaret Tapley died after contracting coronavirus, yet despite her age, she was determined to continue caring and being part of the hospital family.

Mrs Tapley regularly worked night shifts at the hospital, and died at Great Western Hospital, Swindon on Sunday.

The health care assistant’s family remembered a woman who was it’s ‘inspiration’.

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Tom Wood, a senior charge nurse at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust, said his grandmother ‘embodied the nursing spirit’.

He added: “She was my inspiration and a huge reason as to why I am a nurse today.

“She took huge pride in her work but was so humble.”

Another grandchild, Hannah Tapley, said her grandmother was the ‘strongest woman I’ve ever met in my life’.

She added: “I considered her as an additional parent and I’d never be able to do anything I have done without her.

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“I am so proud to call her my grandma. She was the most hard working, caring and perfect woman out there.

“So many people will have such amazing memories of her as she affected so many people’s lives in such a positive way.

“Everyday she would text and phone me sometimes talking about the most random things and I will miss this extremely.”

Miss Tapley is a high jumper, who has competed for Team GB.

She said her grandmother would send her messages before competitions to motivate her or calm her down.

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“She was one of my biggest fans and would support me through everything,” she added.

“I’m not quite sure how to adapt to this but I know she will be watching everything and supporting myself and all my family just in a different place.”

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust announced the death of a ‘much loved, respected and admired’ colleague.

The trust said it will be supporting the family and offering support to Mrs Tapley’s friends at work.

The trust’s chief executive Stuart Bell said: “She was a legend on the ward, and more widely throughout the whole hospital.

“She had worked there for many years, and was remarkable in that she stayed with her team well beyond the point when many others would have retired.

“She was also remarkable in the way she provided calm reassurance, support and encouragement to her colleagues, and compassion and care to her patients.

“Margaret knew coronavirus posed a risk, and if she had wished she would have been perfectly justified in self-isolating, but she wanted to continue in her role, doing the job she loved.

“She embodied all that is best in those who work for the NHS.

“She was such a central figure in the life of the ward that that she will be greatly missed by all those who work there and by those who knew her across the trust.”

Mrs Tapley dedicated many years of her life to the NHS, working most recently as a health care assistant on the Linfoot Ward.