A Tory politician and close friend of ‘bionic’ MP Craig Mackinlay played a key role in the extraordinary battle to keep him alive, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Adam Holloway intervened after doctors at the Kent hospital treating sepsis sufferer Mr Mackinlay reportedly planned to put him on a ‘do not resuscitate’ regime, where desperately-ill patients can be allowed to die.
Mr Mackinlay lost both hands and feet to the terrible illness. Westminster sources said ex-soldier Mr Holloway had spoken of how he had seen veterans of conflicts in Afghanistan and elsewhere recover from such terrible injuries.
Mr Mackinlay, 57, was eventually transferred from his local Kent hospital to the world-famous St Thomas’ in London. And last week the South Thanet Tory MP was given an extraordinary standing ovation when he walked into the Commons wearing his new artificial limbs.
Adam Holloway (pictured) intervened after doctors at the Kent hospital treating sepsis sufferer Mr Mackinlay reportedly planned to put him on a ‘do not resuscitate’ regime
MP Craig Mackinlay lost both hands and feet to sepsis. Pictured, Craig Mackinlay with his wife Katie at home
Last night, ex-Grenadier Guards captain Mr Holloway, who also represents a Kent constituency, refused to comment beyond paying tribute to how Mr Mackinlay’s wife Kati and father Colin fought for him.
He said: ‘Craig’s wife and father would never have given up on him, whatever anyone else said.’
In the Daily Mail yesterday, Mrs Mackinlay revealed how she had pushed for a second opinion, despite a local surgeon saying ‘if you think there’s any fancy treatment available in London…’
Mr Holloway’s role emerged amid suggestions that Mr Mackinlay, who has now decided to stand down as an MP, should be given a seat in the Lords. Last night, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle declined to comment on that but he told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Craig Mackinlay is an inspiration to us all – he really is.’
Mr Mackinlay was initially admitted to the Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham last year after his wife suspected he might have sepsis. He was rapidly put into an induced coma, which he came out of 16 days later.
Mrs Mackinlay spoke yesterday of how she refused to prepare for her husband’s death
In the Daily Mail yesterday, Mrs Mackinlay revealed how she had pushed for a second opinion
Mrs Mackinlay spoke yesterday of how she refused to prepare for her husband’s death, despite being advised by doctors that he was ‘the sickest patient’ there.
Told that only two or three people this ill ever ‘make it’, Mrs Mackinlay, a pharmacist, replied: ‘But Craig will.’ The MP was eventually transferred to St Thomas’ intensive care unit last October and underwent a quadruple amputation in December. Mrs Mackinlay told yesterday of how their daughter Olivia, now five, had been ‘telling everyone ‘My Daddy’s getting magic arms’.’
In emotional scenes in the Commons last week, Mr Mackinlay thanked his wife ‘for being there every single day of those many months in hospital’ and hailed the support of his wider family. Last night, Medway NHS Foundation Trust said: ‘We not able to comment on an individual patient’s care and treatment.’
But Mr Mackinlay, who has thanked NHS staff, said: ‘Adam was with me from the very start and with my wife and family, proved a formidable team to get me the best treatment available. The result is that I am here today.’
