Former US president George H.W. Bush discharged from hospital

Washington, Dec 31 (IANS) Former US president George H.W. Bush was discharged from a hospital in Houston Tuesday after a stay of about a week for treatment of shortness of breath, his spokesperson said.

“President Bush was released from the Houston Methodist Hospital today. He is now resting at home, grateful to the doctors and nurses for their superb care,” Bush family spokesperson Jim McGrath said in a brief statement released Tuesday morning, Xinhua reported.

The 90-year-old ex-president was taken by ambulance to the Houston Methodist Hospital last Tuesday after experiencing shortness of breath and remained there under observation as a precaution.

McGrath said Monday the 41st US president’s breathing has returned to normal and was awaiting doctors’ final approval to be discharged from the Houston hospital.

Bush spent Christmas 2012 at the same hospital for a bronchitis-related cough and other health issues. He remained there for nearly two months at that time.

The oldest living former US president, Bush suffers from Vascular Parkinsonism, a form of Parkinson’s disease which has forced him to use a motorised scooter or wheelchair since at least 2012.

In June, the former president celebrated his 90th birthday by taking to the air for a tandem skydiving jump near his summer home in the US state of Maine.