Sincere thanks to our hospital heroes

Here’s a heartfelt acknowledg ment of the nursing staff up at the hospital. And of course, all of those who are part of the overall working team at Whanga¯ rei District Hospital.

Some keep the place clean, and serve up the tea. Bring you the kai and take away the remainders. Others wheel you round to be scanned and X-rayed, on a chair, on a trolley, and dude, they have the hospital traffic well sussed.

And they’re nice! I was treated so kindly, humoured if you will. To phrase it. These people are a truly professional crew. They do their tasks meticulously well. But they are not a collection of well trained but distant operatives.

They care for you, and that makes a big difference in getting better.

And of course, there are the experts and specialists and doctors and surgeons and trainees, Viva Science! Bring on them radiographers! The castsetting cast! A couple of stars there. Then there are the nurses. The backbone, and the beating heart.

The toughest job is done by the toughest workers, yet they remain the sweetest. Though don’t be surprised if you are firmly made aware that the place is in fact a hospital, and yup, it’s the truth: not everyone up there is dealing with a broken leg. Serious stuff to deal with. And they do.

And it helps the patients to do so too, and that’s what they call a winwin situation.

And to those who administrate the sector, I would be ashamed to be any part of official resistance to improvements in nurses’ circumstances, particularly at a time when they are under huge and increasing pressure.

So, nurses, all of you, dig it. Thank you.

Kia kaha, Kia Tu` pato. Kia Maia. Kia Ora Mai. Hoki!

G.M. Tinker Whanga¯rei