Austin recovering after second op

AUSTIN Mitchell is recovering in hospital after undergoing a second heart operation within a week.

The Great Grimsby MP came out of intensive care yesterday after having an emergency operation in the early hours of Monday morning to remove blood clots that had developed around his heart.

The 78-year-old Labour politician had been recuperating at Kings College Hospital in London following a previous operation to fix a leaky valve.

But despite the setback, Austin is making a good recovery and is hoping to be out of hospital within the next few days.

His wife Linda McDougall yesterday told the Grimsby Telegraph: "He is still in hospital but he's out of intensive care. He had a bit of a setback on Sunday night and he had to have another operation, but he's doing very well.

"He is seeing physios now to start building his strength back up. It's a long recovery period but I think a few more days in hospital and he should be well enough to leave. They are marvellous at Kings College."

When contacted by the Telegraph yesterday, Austin said: "I'm just having my first fish and chips in weeks, which is a good sign!"

He said his recovery was now back on track and that he was keen to "get back to walking and climbing stairs".

Asked if he was looking forward to going home after his latest recent spell in hospital, he replied: "You can say that again! The health service is doing a great job but compared to the joys of being on the front at Cleethorpes, this is nothing!"

Austin, who has represented the Great Grimsby constituency since 1977, was first admitted to Kings College Hospital on June 3, after he collapsed and banged his head outside the Houses of Parliament on June 3.

Messages of support flooded in from political colleagues, including Labour leader Ed Miliband.

Whilst he was being treated in hospital, doctors discovered a leaky valve in his heart. It was initially thought that Austin, who has suffered from an uneven heartbeat for the past 15 years, would need to undergo open heart surgery, but instead doctors fitted a defibrillator and he was discharged after 11 days.

However, after undergoing tests last month, doctors decided he would need to have surgery to fix the problem.

The operation was carried out on Monday, July 22, and was a success.

Following the procedure, Linda told the Telegraph that her husband was in good spirits and had joked that he would always remember his operation because it took place on the birthday of the future King.