MP doing well after heart op

MESSAGES of support have come flooding in for Great Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell, who is recovering in hospital after undergoing open heart surgery.

The 78-year-old Labour politician had the operation to mend a leaky valve on Monday morning at Kings College Hospital, in London.

His wife Linda McDougall said yesterday that the procedure had been a success and that Austin was in good spirits. Today fellow politicians from the area have sent their best wishes to him for a speedy recovery.

Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers said: "I send Austin my good wishes for a speedy recovery and I look forward to seeing him back in Westminster."

North East Lincolnshire Council leader Chris Shaw said: "I wish him well and hope for a speedy recovery so he can carry on doing the work which he has done for many years which is representing the people of Grimsby."

Former Cleethorpes MP Shona McIsaac said: "I wish Austin a speedy recovery and hope that he gets back to full strength as soon as possible."

And Councillor Ray Sutton, chairman of the Grimsby Constituency Labour Party, said: "We are delighted the operation went so well and are glad that the NHS was still there for him. We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him up and about in Grimsby soon."

Austin spent 11 days in Kings College Hospital after collapsing and banging his head outside the Houses of Parliament on June 3, and was fitted with a defibrillator.

Upon being discharged, he spoke of his hope that medication would stop the leak, but after undergoing tests last week, doctors told him that the valve would have to be repaired.

Linda, who went to see Austin in the cardiac recovery unit at 6pm on Monday, said: "So far he is doing really well. He was pleased to see me and we were able to laugh at the fact that he will always remember his operation because it took place on the birthday of the future King!

"Austin will be in hospital for a couple of weeks getting his strength back and then will be spending the summer quietly in Yorkshire reading to start fighting for Grimsby when the autumn term begins."