Matthew Barrett
Back in April, we reported that Guy Opperman (Hexham) had been diagnosed with, and had successful emergency surgery to remove, a non-malignant growth. But the Mail on Sunday reports today that when Opperman was suffering with vomiting and severe headaches, he sought medical help from Commons staff, who initially believed it to be nothing more than a bad headache. Opperman was ready to go home, when staff asked fellow Conservative MP, Dr Daniel Poulter (Central Suffolk and North Ipswich) for a second opinion. Dr Poulter realised he had been suffering from a potentially lethal brain tumour. Dr Poulter told Opperman to go immediately to St Thomas’ Hospital, close to Parliament, where he was sent on to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in central London, and had surgery.
Dr Poulter told the Mail on Sunday:
I was in the bar drinking Diet Coke when I was called. Guy’s symptoms were pain in the back of his head and vomiting. I took those as possible signs of bleeding in the brain. He hadn’t been drinking so it was clear something was happening. He was going to be sent home but I realised it was urgent to get him to hospital.
The operation has been reported to be a success and Mr Opperman is now recouperating in hospital where his family have joined him.
