[ad_1]
A New Zealand nurse who treated British Prime Minister Boris Johnson while in hospital with the coronavirus said she saw the world leader as “just another patient” and thought she was joking when he praised her.
Jenny McGee, who has worked for the National Health Service since 2010, told a New Zealand television station that she was not disturbed 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 interest in the media that he was in the hospital and, to be honest, that was the most difficult thing,” McGee told TVNZ in an interview that aired Thursday, his first public comments since the episode.
“As a unit, he was just another patient we were trying to do our best for, so everything went on as usual. It was just another day at the office, “added McGee.
Johnson, 55, was rushed to the Guys and St Thomas hospital on April 5 after his COVID-19 symptoms worsened and was transferred to intensive care the following day, remaining there until April 9.
Upon discharge on April 12, Johnson said in a video message: “The NHS undoubtedly saved my life.” 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 that he was preparing for his night shift and a friend texted him with the update.
“My first reaction was that it was a joke,” he said.
While McGee was doing intensive care tasks, she said that she and the Prime Minister “spent a lot of time together and we talked about New Zealand,” particularly about his hometown of Invercargill, in which he said he was interested.
After the shifts taking care of the British leader, she said she would get in her car and “I’d hear things about Boris Johnson on the news that were very surreal because I thought” wow, I’ve been taking care of him. “
“But I really was not impressed with taking care of Boris Johnson,” he added.
Johnson was not the only national leader to congratulate McGee, who acknowledged that it took longer than planned to respond to a message from New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, saying that “it is very surreal to receive a message from Jacinda.” She is a hero of mine. “
Once the nurse responded to the New Zealand leader, the two shared “a bit of jokes that were again surreal (and) a couple of emojis.”
