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Belfast Live
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Nadia Breen

Eamonn Holmes on the 'scary' cost of living crisis and his health battle progress

Eamonn Holmes has told how he's finally progressing in his health battle.

Speaking to Belfast Live at the weekend, the North Belfast man said his treatment has "cost him a fortune".

The TV presenter said: "About ten months ago I think probably I was getting out of a car... I think I probably twisted my back and didn't do anything about it and then it got worse and worse and worse.

Read more: Eamonn Holmes says his 93-year-old mum is his "hero"

"It wasn't good. The discs protruded, two of them... and they hit the sciatic nerve here and they killed the sciatic nerve from the top of my nerve to the bottom. The right leg was useless, absolutely useless.

"I've really progressed but it has taken so long. So many injections, so much chronic pain, so much horribleness. Ghastly, absolutely ghastly, but hopefully getting better.

"I look at those people out there, they can't afford private healthcare, and this has cost me a fortune. Everywhere you go, £500 for that scan, £700 for that scan, 250 quid to see that doctor... but luckily I could do it. I do often think, people with things wrong with them, waiting months and whatever, that always makes me feel guilty, makes me feel bad.

Eamonn and his mum Josie (Eamonn Holmes/Instagram)

"But, what else do you do? I'm not one of these people that saves my money for a rainy day. I earn it and I spend it. It's probably a very working class thing to do, but it's what I do."

The Northern Irish broadcaster also opened up on how the current cost of living crisis is "scary".

Eamonn said: "I was with my mum last night, she's not putting the heat on and things, she's 93, I said, 'Mum, look, it's not an issue, just do it. We'll fill it up, you've four sons'.

"But people like her, they're from a different generation. They have that war mentality that if it's not worth doing it, then you shouldn't being doing it, even if you have the money.

"It is awful for people. I have a certain amount of distain for politicians, a lot of it is all words, words, words, but you've got to do things, centrally they've got to decide about fuel duty and knocking it off."

He continued: "There are two things I believe in, what would make a difference to people and also, do the right thing. I don't think you should get everything for nothing, I don't believe that but I think there's times you've got to do the right thing.

"Like Grenfell Tower, nobody did the right thing straight away, nobody, those people should have been immediately housed, even in temporary accommodation.

"Just do the right thing and get it done.

"There's a lot of things we've got to rethink."

Read more: Eamonn Holmes says HMRC case was a "humiliating experience"

Read more: Jamie Dornan sends thoughtful message to Michael Conlan ahead of fight

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