Frank and Ros

My nephew Francis and Ros, on their honeymoon in Auckland, where they visited Maurice and Diana. She has four children and so does Francis. They each have a modest house, and their living arrangements will need a bit of planning.

LI Award

Receiving the Liberal International Freedom award from the LI President, John Alderdice, at the Party conference in Bournemouth, with Ros Scott, President of the Party.

Operation

Images of my left hip, before and after the operation to put it back together. The metal plate is apparently made in only one size, but I'm going to have a look at what there is on Google about this technology. Not surprising that its still a bit painful after three weeks, though its certainly improving gradually.

Today I had an appointment at 10.45 at King's orthopaedic clinic, waiting until 12.15 to be seen. The doctor said he thought a mistake had been made, because there isn't any treatment needed. But L asked what was required to improve my bone density, and they took a blood sample.

I managed to sit at the computer for most of the afternoon, but there's a huge backlog.

Back at home

My first entry since the Thursday before last, I think, a whole 19 days, spent in King's College Hospital, and then in 'King's at Lewisham', two wards rented by King's for patients being rehabilitated after an operation, or being held between operations. I'm still fairly immobile, getting round with the help of crutches, and having to do exercises that will bring the leg muscles back into full use. The doctors say that will take 4-6 weeks. Lindsay has been absolutely marvellous, trundling all the way to Lewisham every day, fetching me home yesterday and looking after me now I'm confined to the first floor - though I can manage the stairs with some difficulty. The bath is still a problem, and for the time being I can only sleep on my back, which makes me snore, unfortunately for poor Lindsay. She's threatening to sleep upstairs in JW's room.

There's a huge and growing file of Parliamentary correspondence, because I can only spend a limited time sitting at the computer. But I'm sure my strength will grow every day until I'm back to normal in a few weeks.

Whenever I spend any time in hospitals it always strikes me that a high proportion of their patients are there because of damage they have inflicted on themselves with tobacco, alcohol or obesity. The staff say they do what they can, but obviously they haven't the time or the skills needed to get patients off these habits. I do wonder if it would be cost-effective to employ social workers, as they do in St Mary's Paddington for patients whose alcohol consumption is a contributory factor, but covering all the bad habits leading to unnecessary burdens on the NHS.

Surely the tax system should also be used to the maximum effect possible, to reduce consumption of disease-causing substances. The University of Sheffield has demonstrated convincingly that a 10% hike in the cost of alcohol would produce substantial health benefits, and similar effects would no doubt be achieved if fast foods were made more expensive.

Lindsay writes: Eric returned home yesterday from Lewisham Hospital. He has a good four weeks more of convalescence and we hope that by January he will return to Parliament. No doubt the next blog will be from Eric.

This is Eric on Monday this week, with Lindsay, welcoming friends from the Bahrain Freedom Movement. Eric is receiving regular visits from the physiotherapist, who has him walking up and down the corridors and even climbing stairs. We're still unsure whether or not he'll be allowed to return home before the weekend, so if anyone is thinking of visiting Eric in Lewisham Hospital, please ring Lindsay first on 0207 640 2306

Visited Eric in Lewisham hospital this afternoon He has been sitting up for much of the day, reading and listening to music. A4 Marlowe Ward, on the fourth floor, with a lovely view of a park, is much quieter than the acute ward at King's, and has only four beds in it. Eric is making good progress, but it will be slow as most bones take about 6 weeks to heal. Old friend from the Press Gallery, Mike Steele, came to visit.

Eric's nephew, Francis Keighley, married Ros Rice in Canberra today. If only we could have been there to join in the celebrations with their two families. We wish Francis and Ros all joy and happiness. Lindsay

Lindsay writes: This afternoon Eric is moving to Lewisham Hospital, Lewisham High Street, south London, to convalesce for about a week. He will be in A4 Marlowe Ward, which is in the women's and children's wing of the hospital, on the 4th floor. This is part of King's College Hospital, based at Lewisham. It is a rehabilitation ward and has "dedicated input from a ward based Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist and Social Worker", should he need all three!

Visiting times are 2pm to 8pm. Please ring Lindsay (0207 640 2306) to let her know if and when you might be visiting. Parking is available at the hospital, at £2 an hour.

Lindsay writes: Eric in good spirits today - he has walked from his bed to the corridor, with the help of a physiotherapist. He has banished the morphine as it makes him too fuzzy and sleepy and is coping well enough with the occasional paracetemol. His doctor is arranging a bone density test, to see why bones seem to be breaking apparently so easily. Eric may soon be moved from his present acute ward to the King's recuperation ward at Lewishham hospital, where he will receive much more intensive physiotherapy, for some days before returning home. As well as Lindsay, Eric received visits from Benny Sedaka and Felicity Devonshire, Philip Epstein and son Lyulph.

Lindsay writes: No plaster cast was necessary as a large metal (could it be Titanium?) plate/screw is holding his left femur together. This operation is called Dynamic Hip Screw Fixation, and if you want to be blinded by science, his doctors advise you go the to AO Foundation website. Eric is making good progress. His physio got him out of bed today, made him stand up and has given him various exercises. Now that the operation anaesthetic/epidural has worn off, he's not quite so comfortable as yesterday, but managing well enough on paracetemol.

Visiting Eric

Lindsay Writes: This morning's operation to repair Eric's broken left femur went very well. When I visited him this afternoon, he was sitting up in bed looking very cheerful (see photo) and relaxed. He was in no pain at all, not from his leg nor from the rib which he broke over three weeks ago.

Physiotherapists will be getting him out of bed tomorrow, sitting in a chair.

Saturday 24th October

Lindsay writes: Eric had the operation to put a pin in his left leg early this morning. He is now back on the ward and the ward nurse tells me he is pain free. I'll be visiting him shortly.

News about Eric - Lindsay writes

The good news is that the consultant says that the pain which Eric has been experiencing in his chest for the past three weeks is caused by a broken rib. We have no idea how this happened, as we can’t remember Eric falling over. Broken ribs are very painful and take quite a few weeks to heal, but are fortunately not serious.

However the not so good news is that during his visit to King’s College Hospital haematology department this morning, Eric tripped and fell down. In doing so, he broke the top of the femur of his left leg. It’s likely the orthopaedic surgeons will operate on him in the next 48 hours, to put a pin in the leg. If all goes well, he will probably be discharged from King's in a week. He's being given morphine for the pain at the moment. Victoria and Alan came straight over to King's when they heard the news.

When I left the hospital an hour ago, A&E staff said Eric would be going up to Twinings Ward. Victoria and Alan are with him at the moment, and I will return later on.

In the nuclear scanner last Thursday