Nurse Jenny’s big day at No 10
Kiwi nurse Jenny McGee has enjoyed a reunion with her high-profile patient British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at No 10 Downing St.
In a series of snaps released on Twitter the British leader is shown yesterday enjoying a cup of tea with intensive care nurse “Jenny from New Zealand” and Luis Pitarma from Portugal as the British National Health Service (NHS) marks 72 years of health care.
“I was honoured to host those who looked after me at St Thomas’ Hospital, at Downing St, as we celebrate 72 years of our incredible NHS,” wrote Johnson.
The pictures show McGee and Pitarma sharing a joke with their former patient, while enjoying high tea in his back garden. They were also joined by doctors Nick Price and Nicholas Hart.
The pair were singled out by the Prime Minister after he was treated for Covid-19 at St Thomas’ Hospital in April. He credited them both for saving his life, recounting how the pair sat by his bed for 48 hours, nursing him when his life hung in the balance.
Invercargill-born McGee was singled out by Johnson as one of the nurses integral to his recovery — after he spent three nights in intensive care.
McGee, 35, who has worked as an intensive care nurse for a decade, later revealed how the pair talked about New Zealand and her home town.
“It was totally out of the blue,” she said of Johnson’s public message of praise.
“We were constantly observing, we’re constantly monitoring,” she told TVNZ of nursing the PM.
When asked if she was nervous to be tending to such a famous patient, McGee said her experience meant she “was not fazed”.
Johnson received no special treatment different to other patients at the NHS, McGee said. The 55-year-old spent a week at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.
The toughest part of that time was the speculation about Johnson’s health, McGee said.
“There was a lot of media interest in him being in hospital, and to be honest, that’s probably the toughest thing of the lot,” she said.
Her efforts also won the praise of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who contacted McGee on Facebook.
“She said how proud she was of me and the country was so proud. It’s so heartwarming and something I’ll never forget.”
There was a lot of media interest in him being in hospital . . . that’s probably the toughest thing.
Jenny McGee, Kiwi nurse