Blair says health is 'fine'

Published on Friday 28 November 2003 00:00

PRIME Minister Tony Blair laughed off renewed concern over his health today.

He insisted he was "fine" after being given the all clear by doctors who had feared he was suffering appendicitis.

Asked by reporters how he was as he left No 10 for engagements in Wales yesterday evening, he replied: "Yeah, I’m fine."

And he said today: "I’m fine. I am better than many feared and others hoped."

Earlier, No 10 said the two doctors who examined Mr Blair on Wednesday night had returned for a second visit, just before lunchtime yesterday, and confirmed no treatment was required. They did not plan to see him again.

Journalist Sir Trevor Macdonald, who saw Mr Blair yesterday for a charity event, said the premier told him it was feared at first he had appendicitis.

That would almost certainly have involved an operation to remove the swollen appendix - a condition rare among men of Mr Blair’s age, 50. Most cases are found in those aged between eight and 25.

The premier’s official spokesman said last night: "The doctors who saw the Prime Minister yesterday popped back, as I said they would, just before lunch.

"There are no plans for them to see the Prime Minister again."

The spokesman refused to divulge what was wrong with Mr Blair - who was involved in another health scare last month when he was taken to hospital with an irregular heartbeat - saying only: "In this circumstance, my understanding is it could have been one of a number of things, none of which are a cause for concern."

The spokesman said he knew of no plans to make any special medical arrangements when Mr Blair travels to the Nigerian capital Abuja for next week’s Commonwealth summit.