Council leader Raymond Bremner talks candidly about health scare – 'I've been told I'm a very lucky person'

Wick and East Caithness councillor and current Highland Council leader Raymond Bremner said he felt like lucky to be alive after landing up in Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

Cllr Bremner shared his recent health issues in a public post on his Facebook page in which he talked about an ECG test that resulted in him having to spend three days in the hospital's theatre and the Coronary Care Unit.

In an exclusive interview with the paper he said: "It really was a bit of a shock. I knew there was something up since last September but nothing was showing up on ECG results and I've just been trying to get on with everything even though the chest pain was being experienced every day.

"One of the team at Three Harbours Practice [Wick] was committed to making sure that cardio issues were dismissed before they looked into anything else and that's why I landed up being referred to the Rapid Chest Pain Clinic at Raigmore just before Christmas.

"They were keen to ensure an appointment within a fortnight and that was just after New Year. Nothing was showing up on the ECG again when I attended but I was wired to the machine when a per chance pain started and they caught it on an ECG that they did immediately after I told them. I was wired to the ECG at the time it happened. I know many people have had the benefit of bypass and stent procedures but it certainly makes you stop and think when it happens to you.

"You're so busy getting on with life and it's challenges that you often ignore signals and signs. I'm really grateful for everything that our NHS teams here in Caithness and at Raigmore have done over the past few weeks. I've been told I'm a very lucky person and I know I'm not the only one. I'm grateful for all the kind messages of support and I'm keen to get back to council as soon as possible after a period of recovery."

Cllr Bremner attended a meeting of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council last Monday evening and talked about having a hard day ahead with a long drive to Inverness for council meetings. Before attending the planned meetings he had an appointment at Raigmore in the morning where the issue was picked up.

His social media post stated: "I'm back home now recovering and have a chance to put a message on here to let folks know that I won't be in action – no driving, no council work – for at least a week and then we'll see how things are progressing but I'm very much looking forward to getting back to it all.

"In matters to do with the full Highland Council, the convenor of the council will be looking after things in my absence. Locally, apologies for any delays but I promise I'll come back to you as soon as I can."

The council leader said he was warned "not to even think about returning to the full job until at least the beginning of next week" and not to drive in the meantime.

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