A 90-year-old Scot rushed to intensive care with coronavirus wants to "give people encouragement" after being discharged and fully recovering from the disease.

Bill Dobie, a retired company director originally from Glasgow, praised heroic NHS workers for their "amazing care" during his eight-day spell in hospital with the deadly virus.

He was rushed to hospital in March just before the government implemented lockdown measures to try to stop the spread of the killer condition.

Avid golf player Bill was confined to bed with a high temperature when his son Paul visited him and called an ambulance.

READ MORE: Coronavirus LIVE: Cases in Scotland surge to 4229 with 74 more deaths

Medics told Paul it was suspected Covid-19 and told him to self-isolate while his father was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital in Lancashire, where he moved in 1969.

But after being treated in intensive care, Bill was put into isolation and then discharged from hospital altogether - and described staff as 'angels'.

Glasgow Times:

Bill said: "I was falling around all over the place, I wasn't well.

"They tested me for Coronavirus and it came back positive, so they put me in the isolation unit immediately.

"I am so lucky to have got through this at my age.

"I am doing very well now, all thanks to the super nurses and doctors at the Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

"I just can't praise them enough, they are super people, incredibly patient and working incredibly hard under immense pressure.

"I will get over this, I will be back in the gym as soon as the lockdown has been lifted.

"I hope my story gives people encouragement for people at what I know is a worrying time.

“I was originally in intensive care but then moved to the isolation ward and I was treated superbly.

“It was a bit of a worrying time obviously but the staff were amazing.

“A few years ago, I had a cardiac procedure at the hospital and I said then I would never again hear a bad word said about the NHS.

“This time they surpassed that and I can’t praise the staff enough.

“The care they gave me was out of this world and I’m over the moon to be back at home now.”

Glasgow Times:

Bill is now in self-isolation at home in Lytham St Annes, Lancs., where he continues his recovery from the disease which has killed more than 5,000 people in the UK.

He added: “It is of course vital to follow the rules regarding self-isolation and social distancing to help the NHS and save lives - but not everyone dies.

“Thank you so much for the care I received - our NHS workers really are special people and I am so grateful.”

His son Paul said he thought his dad had suffered a mini stroke when he first realised he was ill.

Paul added: “We called an ambulance and the paramedic said it was suspected Covid-19 and we were advised to self-isolate while dad was taken to hospital.

“Dad prides himself greatly on his fitness, so it was a shock, but no praise is high enough for the care he received at the Vic and we think it is important to pass on some positive news about this illness.

“All the statistics we see relate to deaths - why not also give updates on how many people have recovered?"

Dr Jim Gardner, medical director at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted to hear Bill’s positive story and I would like to thank him for his kind comments about the people who cared for him.

“I would like to join Bill in praising our staff who throughout the Trust are going above and beyond for patients in these challenging times.”

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