MSP Lochhead: ‘I had to learn to walk again after sepsis infection’

Mr Lochhead said the procedure “didn’t go too smoothly”, with the operation taking longer than expected.

The MSP said: “There’s no doubt that I’m lucky to be here.”

The business minister spent six weeks in hospital and said there were times when he “couldn’t do anything”.

“I had to learn to walk again. I’d lost my voice,” he said.

“It took two to three weeks to get my voice back.”

With his recovery now progressing, he hopes to be back at Holyrood when MSPs return in September after the summer recess.

First minister and long-time colleague John Swinney had previously expressed his thanks for the care given to his “dear friend” when he was “gravely ill”.

Posting on social media site X when Mr Lochhead returned home last month, Mr Swinney gave his “heartfelt thanks to everyone who has helped save his life”.