Kidney stone surgery for Mandelson after 3am dash to hospital

Peter Mandelson was set to have an operation for kidney stones today after being rushed to hospital at 3am by health minister and surgeon Lord Darzi.

The new Business Secretary was admitted to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington in severe pain.

He was later able to leave hospital and attend a meeting of the new National Economic Council at Downing Street. He was set to return later today to have surgery.

Mr Mandelson, 54, began complaining of abdominal pain over the weekend. Yesterday, as he was having dinner with a friend at his £3.5 million Regent's Park home, the pain worsened and he rang for medical help.

Two doctors arrived and, suspecting a serious problem, they called in Lord Darzi. The health minister drove Mr Mandelson to St Mary's, where tests revealed he had a kidney stones.

The Business Secretary showed no obvious signs of pain as he arrived for the National Economic Council meeting. He strolled up with Treasury Chief Secretary Yvette Cooper and emerged from the meeting this afternnoon accompanied by fellow minister Baroness Vadera.

Speaking to reporters as he left he said he felt "very well".

A spokesman for the Business Department said: "Over the past few days Peter Mandelson has been experiencing some kidney pain.

"Hospital tests yesterday confirmed there is a small stone. This will be dealt with by the normal procedures later today.

"He was attending the National Economic Council meeting this morning as expected."

Mr Mandelson was set to be readmitted to St Mary's for a swift and simple procedure later today, and then discharged this evening.

It comes just days after his dramatic return to Government.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced only four days ago that the Blairite minister would be taken on as Business Secretary, moving him from his previous role as EU trade commissioner.

Lord Darzi is the minister charged with a major review of the NHS with a view to shaping care over the next decade. He is an honorary consultant at St Mary's Hospital and The Royal Marsden, and a professor of surgery at Imperial College London.

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