Top cardiologist Albert Fenech has dispelled rumours of ill-health and insisted he would still be contesting the general election on the Nationalist Party ticket.

Please, just get it out there to dispel these rumours that I am on my death bed or that they amputated my leg

Speaking to The Times from his hospital bed, Professor Fenech said he required a minor intervention to his right foot and was in hospital recovering from the operation.

Some rumours claimed the 60-year-old cardiologist had cancer, others thought he had had a heart problem... the list of imaginary ailments was endless. “Please, just get it out there to dispel these rumours that I am on my death bed or that they amputated my leg.

“I just needed a minor intervention on my right foot, that’s all,” he said.

Prof. Fenech, who is contesting the election for the first time on the sixth and 10th electoral districts, said the operation to his foot would keep him out of action for some time and he would require help to get around.

“It affected my first week of the campaign because I had to put door-to-door visits on hold. But I can assure you I was keeping in contact in other ways,” he said.

Without going into the details of his medical problem, Prof. Fenech reaffirmed his intention to contest the general election.

“It put me out of action for some time but I’ll be well again very soon,” he said, although doctors have not yet told him how long he was required to rest.

Prof. Fenech, who lives in Siġġiewi, set up the Department of Cardiology and is a leading cardiology consultant at Mater Dei ­Hospital.