"Just another patient": New Zealand nurse tells of treating British PM for virus

[snoop1130]

"Just another patient": New Zealand nurse tells of treating British PM for virus

 

FILE PHOTO: Police officers outside of the St Thomas' Hospital after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved to intensive care after his coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms worsened and has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputise. London, Britain, April 6, 2020. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - A New Zealand nurse who treated British Prime Minister Boris Johnson while he was in hospital with the coronavirus said she saw the world leader as “just another patient” and that she thought he was joking when he singled her out for praise.

 

Jenny McGee, who has worked for the National Health Service since 2010, told a New Zealand television station that she was unfazed by the task of caring for Johnson, who received the same care as any other patient and “absolutely needed to be there”.

 

“There was a lot of media interest about him being in hospital and, to be honest, that was the toughest,” McGee told TVNZ in an interview which aired on Thursday, her first public remarks since the episode.

 

“As a unit, he was just another patient we were trying to do our best for, so it was business as usual. It was just another day at the office,” McGee added.

 

Johnson, 55, was taken to Guys and St Thomas’ hospital on April 5 after his symptoms for COVID-19 worsened and he was moved into intensive care the following day, remaining there until April 9.

 

On being discharged on April 12, Johnson said in a video message, “the NHS saved my life, no question”. He named and thanked the nurses who had cared for him, including “Jenny from New Zealand”.

 

When Johnson sent that public message, McGee said in the interview, she was getting ready for her nightshift and a friend texted her the update.

 

“My first reaction was that it was a joke,” she said.

 

As McGee carried out intensive care duties, she and said she and the prime minister “spent a lot of time together and we talked away about NZ”, particularly about her home city of Invercargill, which she said he took an interest in.

 

After shifts caring for the British leader, she said she would get in her car and “hear things about Boris Johnson on the news that was very surreal because I thought ‘wow, I’ve been looking after him’”.

 

“But I really wasn’t fazed by looking after Boris Johnson,” she added.

 

Johnson wasn’t the only national leader to congratulate McGee, who acknowledged she took longer than planned to respond to a message from New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, saying “it’s very surreal to have a message from Jacinda. She’s a hero of mine.”

 

Once the nurse did respond to the New Zealand leader, the two shared “a little bit of banter which again was surreal, (and) a couple of emojis”.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-23

 

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[Mick501]

Never met a Kiwi who wasn't down to earth and a good heart.  Something is going terribly right in that country. 

[samran]

1 hour ago, Mick501 said:

Never met a Kiwi who wasn't down to earth and a good heart.  Something is going terribly right in that country. 

Got a good leader at the moment guiding them through this. 

[Roadman]

1 hour ago, samran said:

Got a good leader at the moment guiding them through this. 

A good communicator, not leader. She’s got it right in the later part after her and her MPs started listening to the experienced advice of our medical professionals, Treasury, Reserve Bank and our private sector coming out of lockdown, which for the past two years they have failed to do and trashed our economy. But hey she gives great hugs and looks great in a hijab for the guilible. But complete couk up going in to lockdown where her Hijab one year ceremony party, among many stuff ups including being embarrassed into locking down the country, was more important to get her profile built when all other mass gatherings were already closed down. 
Interestingly early on when it was looking like Scotmo was stuffing up early the lefties here were quick to climb in about how great she was, as the comparison was of two equal islands miles from everywhere, but now that Aussie is doing better without trashing their economy like Cindy has done the lefties are justifying us against Ireland. Don’t believe all the Women’s Weekly leftie garbage coming out of this country media.

[transam]

49 minutes ago, rhyddid said:

Cindarella tales, still alive and said around!

Thought you couldn't buy beer .. Taff.....?  ????

[Phil McCaverty]

18 minutes ago, Roadman said:

A good communicator, not leader. She’s got it right in the later part after her and her MPs started listening to the experienced advice of our medical professionals, Treasury, Reserve Bank and our private sector coming out of lockdown, which for the past two years they have failed to do and trashed our economy. But hey she gives great hugs and looks great in a hijab for the guilible. But complete couk up going in to lockdown where her Hijab one year ceremony party, among many stuff ups including being embarrassed into locking down the country, was more important to get her profile built when all other mass gatherings were already closed down. 
Interestingly early on when it was looking like Scotmo was stuffing up early the lefties here were quick to climb in about how great she was, as the comparison was of two equal islands miles from everywhere, but now that Aussie is doing better without trashing their economy like Cindy has done the lefties are justifying us against Ireland. Don’t believe all the Women’s Weekly leftie garbage coming out of this country media.

Nothing racist about that post! Is this the standard I should expect on Thai Visa?

 

BTW. Just my personal opinion but I think Jacinda Arden stands head and shoulders above any of the current world leaders. Do you Kiwis fancy a swap for Boris? 555

[Davo369]

[samran]

41 minutes ago, Roadman said:

A good communicator, not leader. She’s got it right in the later part after her and her MPs started listening to the experienced advice of our medical professionals, Treasury, Reserve Bank and our private sector coming out of lockdown, which for the past two years they have failed to do and trashed our economy. But hey she gives great hugs and looks great in a hijab for the guilible. But complete couk up going in to lockdown where her Hijab one year ceremony party, among many stuff ups including being embarrassed into locking down the country, was more important to get her profile built when all other mass gatherings were already closed down. 
Interestingly early on when it was looking like Scotmo was stuffing up early the lefties here were quick to climb in about how great she was, as the comparison was of two equal islands miles from everywhere, but now that Aussie is doing better without trashing their economy like Cindy has done the lefties are justifying us against Ireland. Don’t believe all the Women’s Weekly leftie garbage coming out of this country media.

Now there’s a rant in search of a full stop. 

[Mick501]

4 hours ago, samran said:

Got a good leader at the moment guiding them through this. 

Yep, Winston Peters is a top shelf puppet master.

[samran]

3 hours ago, Mick501 said:

Yep, Winston Peters is a top shelf puppet master.

I feel for ole Winston, i actually do like him. But you know if there was a nuclear holocaust he’d be one of the few survivors but still wouldn’t manage to get the top job!
 

 

[Mick501]

2 hours ago, samran said:

I feel for ole Winston, i actually do like him. But you know if there was a nuclear holocaust he’d be one of the few survivors but still wouldn’t manage to get the top job!
 

 

Very true.  The guy says what he thinks and not a slave to being PC.  Has the freedom to move of Pailine Hanson, but a whole lot smarter and generally very sensible with his decisions.  If you have to have a king maker in your country, he's the guy you want.