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RCN Nurse of the Year praised by prime minister

Taurai Matare met Boris Johnson during his publicity visit to London hospital 
Photo of Taurai Matare meeting Boris Johnson

Taurai Matare met Boris Johnson during his publicity visit to London hospital 


RCN Nurse of the Year Taurai Matare talks to prime minister Boris Johnson. Picture: PA

The RCN Nurse of the Year has been described as a ‘local hero’ by prime minister Boris Johnson.

Mr Johnson met matron for ophthalmology Taurai Matare, also known as Tara, when he visited Whipps Cross University Hospital in London yesterday.

Praise for transforming the eye treatment patients receive

In a press release published by Downing Street about the publicity visit, Mr Johnson was quoted as saying: ‘Today I met Tara – a nurse for over 20 years at Whipps Cross.

‘She is a local hero, in this hospital, who had transformed the eye treatment patients receive here.

‘I want to say thank you Tara, for all you do – and thank you to every single person working in our NHS to deliver the world-class care patients receive every day.’

‘The wonderful work nurses are doing’

Ms Matare, an advanced nurse practitioner, was recognised in part for her role in achieving a zero nurse vacancy rate in eye theatres at the hospital, as well as zero complaints in 2018.

Regarding Mr Johnson’s visit, Ms Matare said: ‘I was honoured that he took the time to meet with me, and he came across as genuine when he congratulated me for what I have done.

‘He spoke about the wonderful work nurses are doing across the country and how we have transformed services.’

Prime minister tackled over staff shortages

During the publicity visit, Mr Johnson was confronted by a member of the public about staffing shortages in the NHS.

Concerned father Omar Salem, who describes himself as a Labour activist, told Boris Johnson that the NHS was being ‘destroyed’, and he claimed that his baby daughter had nearly died due to a lack of staff at the hospital.


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