Speaking in the House of Commons, Watford MP Dean Russell has revealed that he suffered a heart attack last year.

During Prime Minister's Questions today (January 17) the MP thanked the NHS for its swift response to his medical emergency in August 2023.

The 47-year-old experienced heart attack symptoms, feeling numbness in his left arm coupled with pain in his chest and upper back, and called 111 for advice, prompting the service to send an ambulance immediately.

He was initially taken to Watford General Hospital and then to Harefield Hospital in Uxbridge where he had a stent fitted to open up his blocked coronary artery.

The MP said: “Thanks to the swift action of the NHS emergency services it was caught early, so one stent operation later I was on a swift path to rehabilitation and recovery and sat here today fighting fit and a bit lighter too.

“So, along with encouraging everybody to visit the British Heart Foundation(BHF) website to understand the early warning signs and get fantastic resources to help them, would the prime minister also join me in personally thanking everyone who helped to save my life and helped me recover."

He thanked the East of England Ambulance Service, Watford General and Harefield Hospital staff and cardiac rehabilitation teams, as well as "everyone who supported me, especially my family and my team" for their help ensuring "that I continued to deliver for the great people of Watford".

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he knew the whole house "will be delighted” to hear about his "swift recovery" (drawing cheers from MPs), wished Mr Russell good health, and thanked the whole NHS.

Mr Russell said it was his work on campaigns with the BHF in his earlier career in marketing and communications that meant he spotted the signs, describing the charity’s information as “invaluable”.

Get information and support from the BHF here

British Heart Foundation Chief Executive Dr Charmaine Griffiths said: “I thank Dean for so openly sharing his heart attack experience to help other people spot the signs before it's too late.

“It was remarkable that it was Dean's involvement in a British Heart Foundation campaign that helped him recognise the signs of his heart attack early.

“Knowing what we all need to watch out for can be the difference between life and death.”