GOOD Morning Britain regular and LBC presenter Iain Dale has revealed to fans he will be off air as he undergoes gallbladder surgery.
The presenter regularly appears on TV and radio, but has told fans that following the surgery he hopes to ‘return to work’.
Writing on Instagram, Iain told fans: “At 7am tomorrow (Fri) I’ll arrive at Benenden Hospital to have my gallbladder removed.
“It’s a 90 minute operation under general anaesthetic. Assuming all goes well I’ll be home in the evening.
“Fingers crossed! And then I can at last return to work!”
He’s been inundated with fan support, as one commented on the post: “All the best , hope op goes well.”
Another shared: “Can’t wait to see you back Iain, you always brighten my day when I see you on TV. Hope all goes well.”
“Hoping all goes well and that is your last medical issue for a very long time,” said another.
A fourth posted: “Hope it all goes well for you Iain. You’ve seen more than your fair share of hospitals recently so hope this brings your run of bad luck to an end!”
In July the broadcaster was forced to take time off from his LBC evening show and presenting on TV after being rushed to A&E suffering with severe pains.
Writing on Twitter at the time, he told fans: “Three and a half hours in A&E and it looks like a gall bladder issue.
“They’re running tests. Might have to come back tomorrow.”
He then gave a further update as he wrote: “Firstly, thanks for all the good wishes. I went to A&E last night at 9pm with acute pain on the right-hand side of my chest.
“I am now in intensive care awaiting an operation to remove my gall bladder. Not ideal. In fact, it’s a nightmare. NHS care at Tunbridge Wells hospital is so far outstanding.”
Delays have meant that the radio host and TV presenter is only now undergoing his operation.
Iain joined LBC in 2010 and has since presented four general election night shows for the station, along with two American presidential election programmes, and the radio station’s Scottish and Brexit referendum result shows.
He is often seen offering his political punditry on Newsnight, The Andrew Marr Show and Jeremy Vine.
Dale, 62, frequently appeared on Good Morning Britain alongside Jacqui Smith to discuss the biggest stories of the day before she was made Baroness Smith of Malvern, of Malvern in the County of Worcestershire in July.
GALLBLADDER SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT
THE gallbladder is a small organ in the upper right area of your stomach, and helps your body to digest fatty foods.
It’s not an essential organ to humans, so is often removed if it starts to cause any health issues.
Inflammation of the gallbladder is called acute cholecystitis, and usually develops because a gallstone, a small stone of cholesterol which forms in the organ, has obstructed the cystic duct.
Symptoms include severe pain in the upper right side, a fever and nausea.
Patients with gallstones which are causing pain may have to have their gallbladder removed, and the removal procedure is known as a cholecystectomy.
It’s very common, and is performed as keyhole surgery under a general anaesthetic so that you won’t feel any pain. Find out more here.
