Michael Rosen writes poem in tribute to NHS nurses after Covid recovery

Children's author who spent 48 days in hospital with virus calls NHS a brilliant and wonderful invention'

Michael Rosen doesn't remember much of his 48 days in an intensive care ward when he was struck down with Covid-19 two years ago. But thanks to a patient diary diligently kept by his nurses, the poet and former children's laureate knows how faithfully and compassionately he was cared for.

They were wonderful. In the diary they tell me how they held my hand, talked to me, sang to me, kept me awake when they were worried that my blood pressure was dipping dangerously low, shaving me, turning me over," he said.