Badenoch MSP cancels surgery after unlucky break
MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Dave Thomspon has had to cancel his planned surgeries due to take place tomorrow (Thursday) in Kingussie, Aviemore and Farr.
Mr Thompson’s proposed surgeries for Friday in Drumnadrochit and Dingwall have also been called off.
The SNP politician has been sidelined because of a broken leg suffered whilst playing football with his young grandson, Jude, on Easter Sunday.
The 65-year-old said he heard a sickening "scrunch" as a bone on his lower left leg gave way.
Mr Thompson, whose "day job" includes sitting on the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs, Environment and Climate Change Committee (RACCE), has now vowed to stick to watching football.
He said: "My sincerest apologies to those who were intending on coming along to my surgeries in Kingussie, Aviemore, Farr, Drumnadrochit and Dingwall. Unfortunately, I am in a cast for at least six weeks and my mobility is limited."
The break also means he will literally have to sit out the election campaign which promises to be one of the most exciting in recent times in the strath.
Mr Thompson said: "We were hiding eggs in the garden for four of my grandchildren and having a nice afternoon on Easter Sunday. My grandson Jude, who is six, was wanting to play football. I obliged.
"But I fell – tripped and landed badly on my left leg.
"I heard it make a scrunching sound as I went down. I thought ‘That doesn’t sound good’.
"I hobbled into the house and thought I’d just badly sprained it.
"It started swelling. I called NHS 24 and when I told them they said I
should go to accident and emergency."
The MSP, who was elected as a regional list member for the Highlands and Islands in 2007 and elected as the member for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch in 2011, continued: "They’ve put a temporary plaster on it – a cast that leaves a bit open. With the swelling they didn’t want to completely enclose it.
"They x-rayed it and the bone is sitting quite nicely together.
"But I should have known better at my age!"
It is not the first time the keen amateur footballer has been injured during a kick-around.
Mr Thompson revealed: "I used to play quite a lot when I was younger, 11-a-side in my teens and five-a-side in my 20s and 30s.
"I broke my arm playing football when I was 19."
And he laughed: "I have to admit that while it’s still full steam ahead for the political one, my football career is definitely over.
"I was never a brilliant footballer, and I’ll be sticking to watching the football next time!"
Mr Thompson had already been out on the campaign trail with SNP hopeful Ian Blackford – standing against defending Lib Dem candidate Charles Kennedy – and intended to help out Drew Hendry with his campaign in the strath.
The MSP said: "Unfortunately I will now be sitting here with my feet up. I’ll not be able to knock doors, that’s for sure."
Mr Thompson is planning to work from home in Inverness.
"I’ve got a wee office in the house – but it’s upstairs," he said.
In February fellow SNP politician Fraser McAllister needed to be uplifted by helicopter after smashing his eye socket and leaving part of his skull exposed in a collision with a rock while sledging.
The 61-year-old councillor was playing in the snow with his grandchildren on hills near Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway, when the horror accident occurred.
• If anyone has a pressing issue they can get in touch with Mr Thompson by email at dave.thompson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk or contact his office on (01349) 864701.
