The only people who knew about his heart attack in the run-up to the long Parliamentary summer recess were his immediate family, constituency party officials, Labour whips and a handful of senior ministers.
The former Home Office and defence minister said: "I have never been ill and never been in hospital before. People complain about the NHS but I can tell you that the treatment I was given and the kindness I was shown was second to none.
"The day after the operation I was sitting up, which says a lot about the treatment I got.
"I will eventually thank everyone but it is difficult to single out anyone for special praise. They were all brilliant. My surgeon in the cardiac unit was Mr Hoo who kept me informed every step of the way, but there are so many others, nurses, hospital staff, everyone, to whom I owe a debt of gratitude."
Close friends and colleagues who have sent messages of support include deputy premier John Prescott, former Labour chairman and Makerfield MP Ian McCartney, and sports minister Richard Caborn.
Father-of-five Mr Kilfoyle has cancelled his family holiday and speeches at the late September annual Labour conference in Manchester.
But he intends to continue as one of Liverpool's most outspoken MPs.
. IAN HERNON says: Some Westminster journalists, myself included, were puzzled Peter Kilfoyle had not spoken out with his usual fierce passion about southern Lebanon.
We put it down to the dispersal of MPs of all political shades when Parliament rose for the long summer recess last month.
Now we know better. We wish him all the best and look forward to his return to frontline politics.
News RSS Feed