DOCTORS and nurses at Droitwich Spa Hospital have been thanked for their expertise and care which has allowed Warwickshire Police Crime Commissioner Ron Ball to get back to work just one week after undergoing a hip replacement operation.

Mr Ball is back in the office on light duties and had his first engagement on August 5 when he attended a meeting with Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, Wendy Williams, at the Warwickshire Justice Centre in Leamington Spa.

Mr Ball is eager to get back to ‘business as usual’ as quickly as possible. He reports that the surgery - conducted through the NHS at The Droitwich Spa Hospital last Wednesday - went extremely well.

He said: “It’s a remarkable tribute to modern surgical procedures that I am back up and on my feet so soon after my operation. I can scarcely believe it myself. While I am currently moving around on crutches and unable to drive, I am nevertheless determined to attend key meetings and visit the office several times a week until I am able to make a full time return.

“I’d like to thank the doctors and nurses at the Droitwich Spa Hospital for the care with which I was treated throughout. It is down to the skill and professionalism of all involved that I am pain free and able to return to work on a light schedule much sooner than I could have ever anticipated.

“I’d also like to publicly thank my deputy, Dr Eric Wood, for ensuring that the work of the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner continued so smoothly in the short period I was away.”

Mr Ball will continue to hold a reduced schedule until he is fully recovered but hopes to be back full time later this month. Dr Wood will deputise for meetings and engagements the PCC is unable to attend in the interim.