RECUPERATING MP John Greenway has hailed the NHS after staff diagnosed and removed a tumour from his leg in less than a fortnight.

He also told how his experiences had illustrated the vital importance of going straight to the doctor if people had any suspicions about a lump or swelling on their body.

The Tory MP for Ryedale said he had had no inkling anything was wrong before his wife spotted a swelling in the back of his thigh. “I did not have any pain and felt perfectly well,” he said. “Fortunately I went to a GP to get it checked out.”

He said the GP had immediately been concerned, and referred him on to Charing Cross Hospital, where tests showed it was a tumour and he was admitted to the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Hospital to be operated on last week.

He said he was now recovering at home, less than a fortnight after he had first known anything was wrong.

But while he was in hospital, he had come across other patients who had delayed going to their doctor until it was too late to be successfully treated. “I feel very lucky,” he said.

He praised the way the NHS and its staff had dealt with his case, saying it proved that while things could sometimes go wrong within the organisation, it could also provide an excellent service. For a long time, they (staff) did not know who I was,” said the former Tory frontbencher, 63, who will stand down as an MP at the next General Election.

He said the surgery had left him with a 16-inch scar down the back of his leg and he was on strong painkillers. “I am in absolute agony.”

He did not believe he would be able to get back to the House of Commons this side of the summer recess.

He said he would like to thank people from all parties who had sent him their best wishes after hearing of his illness.