Margaret Thatcher breaks arm, recovers well in London hospital

Lady Thatcher, 83, fell at her London home and was admitted to the Chelsea and Westminster hospital on Friday. The break at the top of the arm cannot be set in plaster and could take months to heal.

Doctors decided to keep her in as a precaution, having initially decided to discharge her on Friday.

A spokeswoman for the hospital explained Lady Thatcher was being kept in for observation. Speaking on Friday, she said: "It's a simple fracture, but bearing in mind who she is, she's 83 and the shock to the system, it's just belt and braces. There is nothing untoward."

Speaking during a visit over the weekend Sir Mark said she was in "good spirits". He explained: "She had a very good night and was relaxed and slept well.

"She has had some painkillers but was in very good order and had a bit of mischief about her. She's in very good spirits."

Doctors are due today to decide if ex-Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher should be discharged from the hospital.

Sir Mark visited Lady Thatcher at around 7.30am on Monday. He made a short stop at the hospital, telling reporters as he left that no decision was expected to be made about his mother's care until midday.

The Conservative politician, known as the "Iron Lady" during her 11 years in power, has had intermittent health scares since she was forced from power by her own Conservative Party in 1990.

She suffered a series of mild strokes in late 2001 and 2002 and cancelled several engagements a few months later due to an undisclosed illness. On the advice of her doctors, she cancelled her public speaking schedule and cut back personal appearances.