Michael Palin praises his care at St Bartholomew’s and restoration plans for the 900th anniversary
- In a webinar with the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM), Sir Michael Palin has shared his “wonderful experience” at St Bartholomew’s following a heart operation at the hospital late last year.
- He also reflects on the hospital's rich heritage and restoration plans for its 900th anniversary.
The actor, writer and broadcaster underwent four-hour open-heart surgery in 2019 after he was diagnosed with a loose mitral valve.
He was referred to David Lawrence, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon, who he said “tid[ied] up inside [his] heart”.
He added: “For five years it was fine, and I suddenly found at the beginning of last year I was running on Hampstead Heath and it was getting a bit more difficult.
“I was getting rather breathless.
“My heart virtually stopped and I couldn’t go on.
“I’ve never experienced anything quite like it.”
“In September of last year, I was taken into St Bartholomew’s and had a wonderful experience in the sense that it was all done amazingly efficiently and there were wonderfully friendly people there.
“It was such a great hospital to be in. I also loved it because of its history.”
After the care Palin senior received, his son, Will, was inspired to lead Barts Heritage, the organisation charged with repairing and renovating historic the Grade I listed North Wing and Henry VIII Gatehouse at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
“Will was booked to restore St Bartholomew’s and St Bartholomew’s were restoring me,” the Monty Python star and travel presenter said.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph in 2019, Will Palin, who is the chief executive of Barts Heritage, said his father’s experience helped to make up his mind:
“It all just coincided.”
The North Wing houses two of England’s most important interiors, the Great Hall, and the Hogarth Stair with its large paintings by William Hogarth, together with the historic hospital archives and an extensive collection of artwork.
These interiors and collections reflect 900 years of history since the hospital was established in 1123.
Michael said: “The Great Hall and its staircase is magnificent with the wonderful Hogarth paintings.
“It needs a bit of tidying but it’s going to look absolutely wonderful.
“I think St Bartholomew’s is such a great institution stretching back to the 12th century.
“It’s going to be a marvellous jewel once it’s renovated.”
You can read our interview with Will Palin here and find out more about Barts Heritage here.
Michael Palin was speaking to the Royal Society of Medicine as part of their In Conversation Live series.
You can watch the clip and full video below. Picture credit: The Royal Society of Medicine and Barts Heritage.