Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

Lady Thatcher spends night in hospital after arm break

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-13 21:27

London -- Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher spent Friday night in a London hospital after breaking her arm in a fall.

A spokeswoman from her office said the 83-year-old lady had tripped and fallen at home on Friday morning, snapping a bone in her upper arm and had been taken to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

This is a March 8, 2008 file photo of Baroness Thatcher, the former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. [Agencies]

An X-ray revealed she had fractured her upper arm. The spokeswoman said Lady Thatcher remained well after doctors confirmed she had suffered a "relatively clean break."

"She is absolutely fine, she's not in a great deal of pain," she said. "Doctors at the hospital have decided, for everybody's peace of mind, that Lady Thatcher should stay in hospital for a further 24 hours."

Lady Thatcher was visited by her son, Sir Mark Thatcher, earlier. He told reporters: "She had a very good night and was relaxed and slept well."

"She has had some painkillers but was in very good order and had a bit of mischief about her," he said. "She's in very good spirits."

Lady Thatcher, who led Britain from 1979 to 1990, has become increasingly frail in recent years and has suffered a number of minor strokes. Her daughter Carol has also spoken about her struggle with dementia.

Related readings:  Former British PM Thatcher hospitalized in London  Thatcher's daughter writes of mother's dementia  Passion for the power suit casts Thatcher as a fashion icon

Ill health forces her to abandon her regular public speaking engagements in 2002 but she still makes public appearances.

In March last year, she spent a night in hospital after feeling unwell while having dinner with friends.