Margaret Thatcher taken to hospital with infection

Margaret Thatcher was admitted to hospital in west London tonight for treatment of an infection that had caused her to miss her 85th birthday party last week. Her spokesman said Thatcher's visit to the Cromwell hospital was not critical and that they expected her to be out in a few days. The ambulance driver who drove the former PM to the hospital said she was "OK and talking". Lady Thatcher insisted around 150 friends and former colleagues went ahead with her birthday reception at Number 10 last week despite her absence. David Cameron has promised to hold another celebration when she has recovered. The former prime minister very rarely speaks in public now, on medical advice. However, she does still attend a number of high-profile functions. Her long-term memory is apparently still good, but she can have trouble remembering things day to day. In March 2008 the peer, who has previously suffered minor strokes, was taken ill during a dinner in Westminster and spent the night in hospital as a precaution. She was given a clean bill of health by doctors after routine tests.