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Lorraine star Dr Hilary Jones has revealed a life-changing diagnosis after a "scary" hospital dash. ITV's resident doctor spoke to host Lorraine Kelly about his recent health troubles on Tuesday (January 20).

He revealed that he had been rushed to hospital over Christmas after suffering from a virus. After undergoing an ECG, which initially suggested he'd had a heart attack, Dr Hilary was diagnosed with pericarditis - an inflammation of the lining around the heart, which causes chest pain.

"Dr Hilary is with me. I know very well [that] you've had a health diagnosis of your own. It was a real scare, wasn't it, Hilary?" Lorraine began. Dr Hilary replied: "It was a bit of a scare. It's been an eventful festive period really. I've had an unscheduled trip in a motorcyle side car when my car had a puncture and I had to get somewhere urgently. But then I had this virus that was going around, that everybody else seems to have had, and I had a bit of pneumonia."

He went on: "[I also had] pericarditis, which is an inflammation of the membrane around your heart. It was quite painful and I wasn't quite sure what it was at first, but this excellent young pair of paramedics came round and did an ECG. [The] ECG was a bit scary, [it] said I had a heart attack - I hadn't.

"We analysed the trace together and diagnosed pericarditis. They were really good. A 21-year-old guy and a slightly older lady, but they were brilliant. I was blue lighted into hospital."

Lorraine noted: "Gosh, that must have been really weird for you. Really strange, you know," with Dr Hilary adding: "It would be. They thought it was weird as well, like, 'There's Dr Hilary!'"

He continued: "The hospital were great as well, Pembury Hospital. They were inundated with patients, but they were calm and it all got sorted." Lorraine then asked: "But you're okay?" with Hilary confirming: "Yeah, absolutely."

The host went on to share her concern, saying: "We were worried. I was very, very worried. You know when you just hear, you get a message saying, 'Oh, Hilary's been blue lighted to the ambulance,' and all the rest of it. But I felt better after talking to you, and you're okay. Everything's absolutely fine."

Hilary went on to share his best wishes following the death of Lorraine's dad, John. The TV presenter paid tribute to her 84-year-old father after he had been found injured on an outdoor path in his home town of East Kilbride last weekend.

"I know you've had your trials and tribulations too," Hilary said on today's show, with Lorraine replying: "I know. So many people have. I think this time of year, it's a strange one."

In a statement shared on social media, Lorraine previously said her dad was "in poor health but his death had still been a shock." She added: "I am mourning the man who brought me a telescope when I was five years old, who watched the moon landings with me and taught me to always be curious and interested in everything... We will miss you dad."

Lorraine airs weekdays on ITV1 at 9.30am