Paul Holmes misses work in latest hospital stay

Paul Holmes. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

Broadcaster Paul Holmes says he is missing work but hopes to be discharged from Hawke's Bay Hospital soon.

In an interview from his hospital bed yesterday, Holmes said he had been admitted for observation after a bladder infection.

"Contrary to some reports I have not had surgery again. There has been no new surgery, just rest and recuperation."

He said post-operative infections were not unusual and he was being treated with antibiotics.

He said would have preferred if his recovery from surgery had been less turbulent and whether he returned to work too soon would be a topic of much debate.

"There will be discussions on this and probably are already."

Holmes is a Weekend Herald columnist, Newstalk ZB radio host and Q+A television presenter.

"I am missing work. There was Q+A this weekend and I was looking forward to the radio - I had a nice interview lined up with Valerie Adams."

He said if he was not in hospital he would have spent Sunday at his Poukawa home.

"I would be walking around the farm, making sure everything was looking beautiful for the Hospice Holly Trail."

The annual Cranford Hospice fundraising tour of Hawke's Bay gardens of note later this week has sold out.

Holmes said he was behaving himself in hospital, "being looked after well and very content".

The 62-year-old, who had been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - a genetic condition in which the heart muscle becomes thick and blocks blood flow - underwent a four-hour open-heart operation in June. To hasten recovery, he was put on life support in an induced coma.

After flying home to Hastings to rest, he quickly suffered breathing problems and was admitted to Hawkes Bay Hospital for a few days.