Cardinal leaves hospital after heart attack

Cardinal Winning began to feel unwell last Friday

The leader of Scotland's Roman Catholics, Cardinal Thomas Winning, has been discharged from hospital, a week after suffering a heart attack.

But his diary has been cleared until November to allow him a period of recuperation in private.

A spokesman said the Cardinal had been inundated with cards and messages from well wishers.

Cardinal Winning, 76, was collected from Glasgow's Victoria Infirmary on Friday by Mgr Peter Smith, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Glasgow, and taken to an undisclosed address.

"He will have a period of recuperation in private and his diary has been cleared until November," said a church spokesman.

I am immensely grateful to the staff at the Victory Infirmary who have helped me over the last week

Cardinal Winning

"He has to take it easy and not receive a lot of visitors."

The cardinal was taken by ambulance to the hospital on Friday of last week after feeling unwell.

The church said the cardinal was "inundated" with cards and messages in hospital, including a telegram from the Pope.

Cardinal Winning said: "I am immensely grateful to the staff at the Victory Infirmary who have helped me over the last week.

"Their commitment, expertise and devotion have quite literally saved my life. No words can express my gratitude."

The cardinal, who has no history of heart trouble or any other ill health, first began to feel unwell while driving from his office to his home in Glasgow's southern suburbs on Friday.