Bojo puts Kiwi nurse up for award
KIWI nurse Jenny McGee has been nominated for a Pride of Britain award by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson for her efforts and care during his bout of Covid-19.
McGee and fellow nurse Luis Pitarma from St Thomas’ Hospital in London were singled out in his nomination of the hospital staff who cared for him.
’’I want to pay thanks to the utterly brilliant team at St Thomas’ Hospital who saved my life, and there were many of them, but I want to nominate two nurses in particular Luis and Jenny,’’ Johnson said in a pre-recorded video with his fiance´e Carrie Symonds.
‘‘It’s because of you that not only Boris is still here, but we are proud parents to our sweet baby boy,’’ Symonds said. The couple welcomed the birth of their son weeks after Johnson’s recovery.
The Pride of Britain awards celebrate the achievements of remarkable people who ‘‘make our world a better place’’, according to the website. Members of the public can nominate people they think deserve recognition.
Johnson contracted Covid-19 in April and was taken to St Thomas’ Hospital. He was in hospital for a week and spent three nights in intensive care. McGee, originally from Invercargill, was one of his nurses.
After he left the hospital, he publicly thanked ‘‘Jenny from Invercargill’’ for staying by his side while he was in hospital and said he owed the medical staff his life.
McGee has been working in London for about nine years and is in her 30s.
Johnson welcomed her to 10 Downing St in July to catch up over a cup of tea. She was joined by other medical professionals who cared for the prime minister while he was in hospital.