Former News reporter pays tribute to hospital

ANDREA LAMBROU

Lorraine Kelly paid a touching tribute to Hairmyres Hospital staff on Good Morning Britain as her dad undergoes treatment there.

Speaking live on the breakfast show last Thursday, the former News reporter explained how her 79-year-old father John fell ill with a non-coronavirus related condition and had to be admitted to his local hospital for treatment.

Lorraine spoke of her devastation at being unable to travel from her home in Buckinghamshire to visit him in East Kilbride due to lockdown restrictions.

She said: “I would just like to say my own thanks to all the staff at Hairmyres Hospital, especially in Ward 13 where they are looking after my dad.

“Thank you for your patience and all of your hard work and everything you do. It’s much, much appreciated.”

In March, Lorraine revealed that her dad was battling a lung infection and was in a “high risk” group for COVID-19.

Earlier this week, the 60-yearold former Claremont High pupil shared her heartache at not being able to visit her elderly parents, who still live in the town. It’s really difficult because my mum and dad are up in Scotland and my poor wee dad has just been taken into hospital,” she said on BBC Radio Scotland’s Off The Ball show.

“It’s not corona-related thank God, but that’s been really worrying because of course I can’t see him. And you know what your parents are like.

“I phone them up and they say ‘we’re fine, we’re fine, we’re fine’ and you know they are really not. You just want to see their wee faces.

“It’s been difficult and everybody is exactly the same, we are all in the same boat.”

Last year, the TV star praised the NHS for saving her dad’s life after he was injured in a fall and broke his ankle. He developed a serious infection after undergoing surgery at Hairmyres, where Lorraine said medics went “above and beyond the call of duty”.

She said: “He was lucky to get such excellent treatment from the NHS. They say they’re just doing their job, and it’s this response that is typical of our humble heroes.”