Carrie Johnson, wife of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has revealed she spent the first week of 2025 in hospital after being diagnosed with flu and pneumonia.
The 36-year-old was treated at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital and has now been discharged, though she indicated it could take several weeks to make a full recovery.
“I didn’t expect to spend the first week of 2025 in hospital,” she wrote on Instagram on Saturday morning, alongside a photo of her hospital bed.
The former Conservative aide shared details of her health battle in a social media post praising NHS staff.
The former Conservative aide shared details of her health battle in a social media post
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Johnson revealed she had battled a chest infection for nearly 18 days at home over the Christmas period before her condition deteriorated.
“After having a nasty chest infection for nearly 18 days at home over Christmas, it just got out of hand and I was struggling to breathe properly,” she wrote.
The hospital later confirmed she was suffering from both flu and pneumonia.
Her post included photos of personal items brought by her children, including a dinosaur toy from her son Wilfried and a keyring from daughter Romy.
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In her social media post, Johnson paid tribute to NHS staff, describing them as “the best people on Earth.”
She wrote: “They have looked after me and my family when we’ve needed it most and I will never not be enormously grateful.”
She specifically praised the staff at John Radcliffe Hospital for their exceptional care.
One particularly touching moment came when a nurse serenaded her by her bedside during a low point in her stay.
Her post included photos of personal items brought by her children, including a dinosaur toy from her son Wilfried and a keyring from daughter Romy
“They are the absolute best of us. I was at the John Radcliffe and I cannot thank them enough,” she added, describing the care as showing “unbelievable kindness.”
Johnson used her post to strongly advocate for flu vaccination, expressing regret at missing her own jab this year.
“Obviously check with your doctor but my strong advice is to get the bloody flu jab. I really, really wish I had,” she wrote.
She acknowledged that while vaccination offers no absolute guarantee, it might have prevented her prolonged illness.
“It totally slipped my mind this year. No guarantee, but I very possibly wouldn’t have spent the last three weeks horribly, horribly ill had I got it,” she added.
Her post concluded with a reflection: “Health and family are everything.”