Blue plaque honours portable defibrillator inventor Frank Pantridge

The Northern Ireland cardiologist who invented the portable defibrillator has been honoured with a blue plaque in Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Sep 2021, 23:10 BST
Updated 29th Sep 2021, 23:11 BST
Ulster History Circle of a blue plaque in honour of Northern Ireland cardiologist Professor Frank Pantridge at Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. Photo: PAUlster History Circle of a blue plaque in honour of Northern Ireland cardiologist Professor Frank Pantridge at Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. Photo: PA
Ulster History Circle of a blue plaque in honour of Northern Ireland cardiologist Professor Frank Pantridge at Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. Photo: PA

The event to mark the achievements of Professor Frank Pantridge, who was born in Hillsborough, was organised by the Ulster History Circle.

Covid restrictions meant only a very small group could attend, but it included Prof Pantridge’s nephew, also called Frank.

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Olympic gold medallist Lady Mary Peters unveiled the plaque at the hospital where the cardiologist worked for 32 years.

Olympic gold medallist Lady Mary Peters and Frank Pantridge unveil a blue plaque in honour of Northern Ireland cardiologist Professor Frank Pantridge at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. Photo: PAOlympic gold medallist Lady Mary Peters and Frank Pantridge unveil a blue plaque in honour of Northern Ireland cardiologist Professor Frank Pantridge at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. Photo: PA
Olympic gold medallist Lady Mary Peters and Frank Pantridge unveil a blue plaque in honour of Northern Ireland cardiologist Professor Frank Pantridge at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. Photo: PA

It was the 250th such plaque erected by the Ulster History Circle.

The event was originally planned for March 2020 with a large guest list but was postponed due to the Covid pandemic.

Unveiling the plaque on Wednesday, Lady Mary Peters said: “The professor would have been humbled by this accolade but yet immensely proud.”

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Chris Spurr, chairman of the Ulster History Circle, said: “Frank Pantridge’s pioneering work as a cardiologist at the Royal Victoria Hospital is of outstanding international significance.

“As the world waits to see the 25th James Bond movie, the Ulster History Circle is delighted that our landmark 250th blue plaque commemorates Professor Pantridge and his development of the portable defibrillator.

“His true work of genius outshines the feats of any fictitious secret agent and ensures that in real life millions of patients across the globe have ‘no time to die’.”

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Kate Nicholl, said: ‘Blue plaques are an important part of promoting our city’s heritage and shining a spotlight on the men and women who have enriched their communities and had a significant role in our history.

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“Frank Pantridge is a name we are all familiar with for the enormous contribution he made to healthcare.

“His invention has helped to save countless lives, not just here but across the world, and it is fitting for him to be honoured in this way. Belfast is renowned for some of the most eminent scientific minds, and this is something we can be extremely proud of.”

Bernie Owens, deputy chief executive of Belfast Trust, said: “Today we are delighted to pay tribute to our late colleague Professor Pantridge.

“We are immensely proud that he was one of our peers in the Royal Victoria Hospital. This blue plaque is an important reminder of his pioneering work and how the invention of the portable defibrillator has transformed healthcare and saved countless lives.”

Related topics:BelfastProfessorRoyal Victoria HospitalNorthern IrelandMayor