REDDITCH borough and county councillor Mike Rouse is recovering at home after being admitted to the Alexandra Hospital last Friday, October 29 with breathing difficulties.
A former deputy leader of the Conservatives on Redditch Borough Council and current leisure portfolio holder, Coun Rouse represents Church Hill at the Town Hall and Redditch South at County Hall.
A CT scan confirmed multiple small clots in both lungs, the cause of which is still undetermined.
Speaking from his home, Coun Rouse, aged 38, said: “I started to feel unusually short of breath and got an appointment with my GP over the phone.
“He said you don’t sound very well and advised me to go to hospital.
“There they hooked me up to a diagnostic machine which found I was low in oxygen, so they pumped full of oxygen and antibiotics.”
Further tests uncovered a number of small blood clots on both lungs.
“I asked if it had anything to do with my Covid jabs but they were back in May, and they said I just needed to have more scans done so they can figure out the cause.”
However Coun Rouse, a father of two who has struggled with his weight, acknowledged the health scare was very much ‘a wake up call’.
“They asked me if I wanted to sign a do not resuscitate form, which was really scary.
“It’s certainly something that has made me think about my lifestyle.”
In the meantime he has been prescribed blood thinners and has returned to light duties for the council.
“What I would like to do is thank all the staff at the Alex who cared for me for their medical help and support,” he said.
Council Leader Matt Dormer said: “We wish Mike all the best – he needs to take more care of himself.
“Your health is so important. It’s something that everyone should take note of.”
Redditch MP Rachel Maclean also wished Coun Rouse a swift recovery, saying she was sending him “healing thoughts and very best wishes”.
