Leigh Hart's Heartfelt Tribute to NZ Nurses After Hospital Stay

“Everyone from the highly skilled doctors down to the orderlies moving beds, cleaners and of course the nursing staff. I didn’t think it was possible to have even more admiration and respect for my mother than I had already, but now I do,” said Hart, adding that his mother worked as a nurse on and off for over 50 years. “I want to make special mention of the nursing staff working in Ward 68, where I was. What I saw them do on a daily basis was humbling, mind-blowing, almost incomprehensible.” Ward 68 at Auckland Hospital is an inpatient ward for general medicine, handling admissions for non-surgical medical issues. Hart continued his post, adding that he saw nurses in the ward subject to racism and abuse; “They work hard in tough conditions, often doing some pretty vile tasks for little thanks. I saw them put up with standard abuse and, of course, racism!”. The 55-year-old revealed he was less than impressed by some of the patients and occasionally let them know his thoughts on their behaviour. “Do I think nurses need to be paid more? YES, I do. We need to nurture this industry, keep as many qualified here as possible and be more grateful to them and all the others in our imperfect health system.” He finished by noting that his post wasn’t meant to be taken as a political commentary, simply a thanks to nurses. “They really are the best of us.” Members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO), including nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and kaimahi hauora, engaged in “work-to-rule” action last year to highlight what they call unsafe staffing levels. Followers of Hart rushed to the comments section to thank him for his words and share similar stories. “Having spent the last 14-months within the Northland health system, my experience has mirrored yours, mate - those people doing that mahi on the daily need their blood bottled, paid a lot better and shown the respect they deserve,” one said. Another added her memory of Hart’s mum, whom she worked alongside; “I worked with your mum at Palm Grove rest home in Christchurch. She was one of the best nurses I’ve worked with. She inspired so many”. And Health New Zealand - Te Whata Ora social media account replied to Hart, sharing their thanks for his kind words for those on our medical front lines. “Kia ora Leigh, social media person here - have passed on your lovely words to the team at Auckland City Hospital, who deserve all the praise in the world. Hope you are feeling much better.”