GORDON HENDERSON MP

08:30 First appointment on what is set to be a packed constituency day is a visit to the Isle of Sheppey Academy where I am to play the part of Alan Sugar in the final of the school’s “Apprentice” project that has been running for several weeks. I had lost a bit of vision in my left eye so left my contact lenses out this morning and found that I had some difficulty reading the briefing notes with which I was provided. In the event it all went well and I was very impressed with the standard of entrants and the way in which Caron Kerr, from the Academy, had organised the contest. The four finalists received cash prizes ranging from £50 for fourth place to £500 for the winner. The prizes were donated by Austin Clay, from the Queenborough and Rushenden Regeneration Project, and Ken Pugh, who is the local Kent County Councillor. Well done all round!

10:00 I met Mick Thomas who is a teacher at the Academy who is running a project he has named SHOUT (SHeppey OUTreach) to raise funds and collect clothes to send to schools in the Eastern Cape in South Africa. I have agreed to endorse the project and encourage other local schools to take part. We took a couple of photos and I promised to put out a press release to highlight Mick’s efforts.

10:20 I was increasingly concerned about my left eye so I rang my optician who managed to fit me in for an eleven o’clock appointment, so I made my way straight to Chatham.

11:00 It was not good news; my optician told me that I could have a detached retina, although he sweetened the pill by adding that on the other hand it could be an occlusion in the retina. He immediately rang the emergency eye clinic at Maidstone Hospital and made an appointment for me to be seen straight away. He advised me to take a driver because I wouldn’t be able to drive home. He also said that if I needed an operation it would require a trip to St Thomas’ Hospital in London. Great!

12:00 I was due for a 1.30pm meeting at the Kent County Council so I rang to cancel. I then contacted my constituency Office Manager, John Burke, and arranged for him to take my place both at the meeting with a group of local magistrates to discuss opposition to the closure of Sittingbourne Magistrates Court and at my monthly Sheppey surgery scheduled for 4pm.

13:00 Dashed home to pick up Louise and an overnight bag in case I was sent to St Thomas’s and headed for the Maidstone Hospital.

15:30 The specialist gave me the good news that it was not a detached retina, however, she confirmed that I had an occlusion and took a blood sample so that they could find out what is causing the problem. She has put me on a daily dose of baby aspirin to thin my blood and said that I should arrange a full health check. As it happens I am due for a check up next Tuesday so I will await the results with interest.

16:15 We were back home shortly after 4pm, however, I was glad that I had arranged for John to take my surgery because I could barely see because both my eyes had been dilated during the course of my examination.