I am glad to have the opportunity to add my voice of thanks to the many nurses around our country. I also give a shout-out to those in the ambulance services who are striking today and want us to do more for them. Strangely, my first job at 16 years of age was in a nursing home during the summer holidays. I never forgot the impact that had on me because I saw the outstanding work the nurses did. It resonated with me and the outstanding care left an indelible mark on me. Every patient was like their own parent, brother, sister or father. I thought that was incredible. From my circumstances in the past year, we lost two members of my family. We lost my daughter-in-law this time last year and my brother in recent times. I had lots of good reason to visit hospitals. I have often felt that nurses are born to be nurses. They are not manufactured. They come with such empathy, care and compassion and wonderful tolerance. They can cope with almost anything. I saw lots of times how people struggling with dementia might strike out. The nurse is able to withstand that and take that as if it is par for the course. I am not sure there is any other occupation with the tolerance to do that. The work they do is resounding. It is high time we said thank you loudly to them. Saying thanks, as others have indicated over the last while, is a small thing, though significant, but what is really needed is for us to take stock and be cognisant of what they are enduring. There needs to be fair play for the contribution they make to society. That is one of the most compelling things, which we should really be doing. All of the contributions here today have been along the lines of praising them highly and speaking about the challenges. We all know those challenges and aware of the tremendous threat. I am one of those, and God knows there are plenty more, who witnessed the nursing staff never allowing that stress or front-line pressure to have any impact on their patient. I can recall, as I said in recent times, when my brother was critically ill just a few weeks ago that it was a comfort to him to press the red help button. The expression on anyone's face, particularly his, when that nurse arrived into the room showed that was a lifesaver. These are the things that I take from today's conversation. It is about acknowledging that wonderful contribution that they make to society. They continue to do personal development and improve their skills. Many are finding it a struggle to find their first job in their nursing career, and there are those who are abroad and want an opportunity to come home and work here. Many of those who are abroad, be it in Australia, America or Canada, go as a life choice and come back with a wealth of experience to offer to the health system here. I add my voice of thanks to the wonderful nursing staff around the country for what they do to keep the clock ticking on life.

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