Indian PM seemed eager to go back home, skipped hospital breakfast

Swapna Tarafdar
New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) The eagerness to reach the
soothing confines of his home was visible on face of Indian
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who after spending more than a
week at AIIMS following a bypass surgery was discharged
Sunday.

The 76-year-old leader, who woke up early Sunday morning,
was so excited about going back that he preferred to have his
breakfast with his family at his official residence rather
than in the hospital.

"The Prime Minister was actually looking forward to going
back home and getting back to his daily routine. He woke up
early and seemed more excited today. He even skipped his
breakfast here because he wanted to have the same at his
house," hospital sources said.

They said Singh also personally thanked every doctor who
attended to him during his stay at the hospital.

The sources said that the Prime Minister began the day
with a cup of tea. Later, he went through the daily newspapers
before getting ready and left the hospital a little before 8
AM IST.

Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Ambumani Ramdoss who
spoke to reporters after the Prime Minister was discharged too
said, "He was very cheerful and was enquiring about activities
and happenings. He is on his way to recovery".

PM's Media Advisor Deepak Sandhu said the Prime Minister
was "pleased to be back at home".

The decision to discharge Singh, who had an an eight-day
stay in the hospital was taken by a team of doctors from Asian
Heart Institute (AHI) led by surgeon Dr Ramakant Panda.

Ahead of his discharge, doctors had completed the process
of installing all the required machines at his official
residence to monitor his condition.

Cardiac rehabilitation specialist Dr Ashish Contractor
from AHI and Dr Vijay D'Silva besides three nurses from the
Mumbai-based hospital will monitor the Prime Minister's
condition at his residence.

While Dr D'Silva will take care of the Prime Minister for
a few days, Dr Contractor will stay back for a week and the
nurses for about three weeks to monitor the Prime Minister's
health. PTI