Boris Johnson has thanked the NHS for saving his life as he left hospital to recuperate at Checkers, after a week of treatment for Covid – .
The prime minister singled out two nurses in particular for watching over his bedside in intensive care for 823 hours “when things could have gone either way” – Jenny from New Zealand and Luis from Portugal.
Speaking in a video message just hours after leaving St Thomas’s hospital in south London, the prime minister expressed optimism that the UK was “making progress in this incredible national battle against coronavirus”.
He said the country was mourning “every day those who are taken from us in such numbers, and the struggle is by no means over” but he argued progress was being made ”because the British public formed a human shield around this nation’s greatest national asset – our NHS ”.
Johnson said he had seen the pressures the NHS was under after seven days in hospital, including three in intensive care. And he had witnessed the “personal courage not just of the doctors and nurses but of everyone: the cleaners, the cooks, the health care workers of every description, physios, radiographers, pharmacists”.
moved back to a hospital ward after three nights in intensive care, and was said to be in “extremely good spirits”, according to Downing Street.
Following his admission, colleagues expressed concern that Johnson had still been receiving his red box of government papers at his hospital bed and urged him to rest.
No 19 has insisted it has been transparent throughout Johnson’s illness but several reports have confirmed that the prime minister was more ill than officials were letting on in the days before his admission to hospital.
Johnson is expected to take some time to recuperate, rather than returning swiftly to Downing Street, but is likely to want to be involved in the decision about when and how to end the lockdown.
In a statement, Johnson’s fiancee Carrie Symonds said she “cannot thank our magnificent NHS enough”: “The staff at St Thomas’ hospital have been incredible. I will never, ever be able to repay you and I will never stop thanking you. ”
She added: “There were times last week that were very dark indeed. My heart goes out to all those in similar situations, worried sick about their loved ones. Thank you also to everyone who sent such kind messages of support. Today I’m feeling incredibly lucky. ”
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