The Office of Prime Minister Emeritus: the health of a statesman - and a stateswoman

Earlier this week, David Cameron recalled Baroness Thatcher's battle with dementia.  You can read the report in The Daily Telegraph here.  The image below is taken from the story.

One of the fates that befalls former Prime Ministers is that their health, or rather their ill-health, is often reported in the media.

We'll come back to the coverage of Lady Thatcher's health, but for now, let's look at another Premier Emeritus: Earl Attlee.  Listed below are those occasions when his health was covered in The Times.

1956
11th February - a road accident
13th February - continued coverage
14th February - continued coverage
16th February - continued coverage
22nd February - Lord Attlee back in Lords

1958
22nd May - Operation - hernia - St Mary's Paddington
24th May - entered hospital
26th May - continued coverage
27th May - continued coverage
29th May - continued coverage
30th May - continued coverage
3rd June - left hospital

1961
7th December - Condition of Lord Attlee grave - Amersham Hospital check-up after a stomach upset 8th December - suffered a heart attack as a complication of his gastric disorder - Queen sent a telephone message/PM and Gaitskell sent best wishes for recovery
9th December - continued coverage
11th December - continued coverage
12th December - continued coverage
13th December - continued coverage
14th December - continued coverage
16th December - Lord Attlee: Anxiety now over
23rd December - continued coverage
28th December -  Lord Attlee getting up (Lady Attlee in same hospital with lumbago)

1962

1st January 1962 - continued coverage

4th January 1962 - Lord Attlee's 79th birthday 

5th January 1962 - Lord Attlee going him tomorrow 

19th January - mild haemorrage in his right eye after developing a slight cold

12th March - check-up and dental treatment four teeth out
18th April - taken to King Edward VII hospital for gastric investigations
21st April - continued coverage

23rd April - Lord Attlee: An Operation - for relief of stomach obstruction due to a very chronic duodenal ulcer 

24th April - continued coverage

25th April - continued coverage

28th April - continued coverage
21st May - Another operation on Lord Attlee - removal of duodenal ulcer
22nd May - moderately restful night
23rd May - more restful night/slight improvement in his condition

1964
2nd September - Lord Attlee has medical check

1965
4th March - Lord Attlee unwell in Lords - felt unwell while sitting in the Chamber of the House of Lords yesterday and returned early to his home in London
10th March - entered Westminster Hospital on Monday for a routine check-up
12th March - discharged last night routine check after minor indisposition Times

1967
9th September - on the front page: Earl Attlee taken to hospital 'slight condition'
11th September - on the front page: Lord Attlee has a good night
21st September - on the front page: Lord Attlee: condition unchanged 'causing some concern'
22nd September - on the front page: Lord Attlee 'remains gravely ill'
25th September - on the front page: Lord Attlee: slow progress 'still critically ill'
26th September - on the front page: Lord Attlee 'slightly better still remains seriously ill'
27th September - on the front page: Lord Attlee 'maintaining recent rate improvement remained seriously ill'
2nd October - on Page Two: Lord Attlee: no change
3rd October - on Page Two: Lord Attlee still improving 'condition satisfactory'

Earl Attlee died on 8th October 1967.