We treated PM like any other patient say nurses singled out for praise
The nurses who cared for Boris Johnson while he fought for his life in intensive care have said the Prime Minister was “a patient like any other”.
Luis Pitarma and Jenny Mcgee were singled out for praise by the Prime Minister after treating him at St Thomas’ Hospital in central London when he was admitted with persistent coronavirus symptoms.
He is recuperating at Chequers, his countryside residence, with Carrie Symonds, his pregnant fiancee.
Mr Pitarma and Ms Mcgee, from Portugal and New Zealand respectively, were lauded by Mr Johnson for standing “by my bedside for 48 hours when things could have gone either way”.
Mr Pitarma, 29, who revealed he had been inspired by Florence Nightingale, said he was “nervous” after being told he would be caring for the Prime Minister, but said his first conversation with his famous patient put him at ease.
Mr Pitarma said: “I was changing into scrubs before my night shift when the matron called me over and told me the Prime Minister was about to come to ICU.
“I had been chosen to look after him because they were confident I would cope with the situation well.
“I felt nervous at first - he was the Prime Minister. The responsibility I was going to hold in my hands was quite overwhelming. I didn’t really know how to address him - should I call him Boris, Mr Johnson or Prime Minister?
“My matron reassured me and said to be myself like I am with any other patient.
“I asked how he would like to be addressed and he said to call him Boris.
“That made me feel less nervous because he took away any formality. He just wanted to be looked after like anyone else.
“Knowing that I was watching over the Prime Minister felt quite strange because I’ve never looked after someone high profile before.
“But he was also a patient like any other patient, a life like any other life. It was a big responsibility and I gave it the same respect as I would with any other patient.”
Mr Johnson later released a video message praising the hospital team after being discharged, saying: “The NHS has saved my life, no question.”
He name-checked the two nurses in particular for their care, saying: “The reason in the end my body did start to get enough oxygen was because for every second of the night they were watching and they were thinking and they were caring and making the interventions I needed.”
Ms Mcgee said she was unfazed by the added pressure of taking care of the Prime Minister, and added Mr Johnson “absolutely” required the urgent treatment.
She told TVNZ: “He was just another patient we were trying to do our best for. It was business as usual.
“When I got in the car after work each night and I could hear things about Boris Johnson on the news, that was very surreal.
“I thought, ‘Wow, I’ve just been looking after him’, but I really wasn’t fazed by looking after Boris Johnson.
“These patients who come in to us, it’s a very scary thing for us so we don’t take it lightly.
“He absolutely needed to be there. ”ms Mcgee said she turned her phone off due to being bombarded with messages after Mr Johnson’s public message of thanks, and was shocked when New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern also messaged her.
Portuguese president marcel o Rebel ode Sousa contacted Mr Pitarma directly to express his gratitude, inviting his countryman to the presidential palace on his next trip home after travel restrictions are lifted.
The nurse said: “To be thanked by the Prime Minister and the Portuguese president within the same few hours was amazing. I couldn’t really believe what was happening.
“Apparently I’m a celebrity in Portugal now. It’s great to get more recognition for nurses there.”