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| Pneumonia treatment for Prescott | Pneumonia treatment for Prescott |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has been moved to a high-dependency hospital unit after being diagnosed as having pneumonia. | Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has been moved to a high-dependency hospital unit after being diagnosed as having pneumonia. |
| The 69-year-old's office said the decision had not been taken because his condition had deteriorated. | The 69-year-old's office said the decision had not been taken because his condition had deteriorated. |
| He has been in hospital since Saturday, when he was taken ill on a train from Hull to London. | He has been in hospital since Saturday, when he was taken ill on a train from Hull to London. |
| His friends have told the BBC's Nick Robinson that Mr Prescott is conscious and there is no sense of alarm. | His friends have told the BBC's Nick Robinson that Mr Prescott is conscious and there is no sense of alarm. |
| The prime minister wishes John Prescott all the best for a speedy recovery Downing Street spokesman Profile: John Prescott class="" href="/1/hi/health/medical_notes/6725531.stm">What is pneumonia? | |
| Our political editor said the friends had told him that the deputy prime minister was sitting up, and had managed to dictate a statement about his illness. | Our political editor said the friends had told him that the deputy prime minister was sitting up, and had managed to dictate a statement about his illness. |
| Stepping down | Stepping down |
| It is thought he was moved to the high dependency unit - for patients needing more observation and treatment than in a general ward - owing to his age and the fact that he suffers from diabetes. | It is thought he was moved to the high dependency unit - for patients needing more observation and treatment than in a general ward - owing to his age and the fact that he suffers from diabetes. |
| His official spokesman said: "He has been moved to a high-dependency unit, not because of a deterioration in his condition but so that his condition can be monitored more closely." | His official spokesman said: "He has been moved to a high-dependency unit, not because of a deterioration in his condition but so that his condition can be monitored more closely." |
| A Downing Street spokesman said Prime Minister Tony Blair wished Mr Prescott "all the best for a speedy recovery." | A Downing Street spokesman said Prime Minister Tony Blair wished Mr Prescott "all the best for a speedy recovery." |
| Cabinet minister Peter Hain, who supported Mr Prescott's campaign to be Labour's deputy leader in 1994, said everyone in the party was wishing him a speedy recovery. | Cabinet minister Peter Hain, who supported Mr Prescott's campaign to be Labour's deputy leader in 1994, said everyone in the party was wishing him a speedy recovery. |
| "I have sent my best wishes to John and his family," said Mr Hain, who is one of the candidates to succeed Mr Prescott in his party role. | "I have sent my best wishes to John and his family," said Mr Hain, who is one of the candidates to succeed Mr Prescott in his party role. |
| The deputy prime minister had been due to chair the regular meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday because Mr Blair is at the G8 summit in Germany. | The deputy prime minister had been due to chair the regular meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday because Mr Blair is at the G8 summit in Germany. |
| Downing Street is expected to announce later who will take Mr Prescott's place at the meeting, leading to speculation the Chancellor Gordon Brown may step in. | Downing Street is expected to announce later who will take Mr Prescott's place at the meeting, leading to speculation the Chancellor Gordon Brown may step in. |
| In May, Mr Prescott announced he would step down as Labour deputy leader and deputy prime minister on 27 June - the same time as Mr Blair. | In May, Mr Prescott announced he would step down as Labour deputy leader and deputy prime minister on 27 June - the same time as Mr Blair. |
| Kidney stones | Kidney stones |
| During his 10 years as Mr Blair's deputy, Mr Prescott has been generally in good health. | During his 10 years as Mr Blair's deputy, Mr Prescott has been generally in good health. |
| However, in 2002 it was announced he had suffered from type two diabetes for a number of years, managing the condition with medication. | However, in 2002 it was announced he had suffered from type two diabetes for a number of years, managing the condition with medication. |
| And he was taken to hospital on Christmas Day 2006, when he was treated for kidney stones. | And he was taken to hospital on Christmas Day 2006, when he was treated for kidney stones. |
| Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by an infection. | Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by an infection. |
| Many different bacteria, viruses and even fungi can bring on the illness - although Mr Prescott's official spokesman said he did not know what had caused the pneumonia in his case. | Many different bacteria, viruses and even fungi can bring on the illness - although Mr Prescott's official spokesman said he did not know what had caused the pneumonia in his case. |
| Symptoms include difficulty in breathing, chest pain, coughing and fever. It is frequently resolved within weeks. | Symptoms include difficulty in breathing, chest pain, coughing and fever. It is frequently resolved within weeks. |