UK hospital says ex-spy Sergei Skripal discharged, more than 2 months after poisoning with nerve agent. </s> Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, who was exposed to a nerve agent along with his daughter, has been discharged from hospital.

Mr Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia Skripal, 33, were admitted to Salisbury District Hospital along with Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey after being exposed to the novichok agent on March 4.

The hospital confirmed on Friday that all three patients had now been discharged.

Treatment of such patients involves “stabilising them, keeping them alive until their bodies could produce more enzymes to replace those that had been poisoned”, it said.

Lorna Wilkinson, director of nursing at the hospital, said: “We have been able to discharge Sergei Skripal.

“This is an important stage in his recovery, which will now take place away from the hospital.

“Treating him and the other two people poisoned by this nerve agent, while still providing outstanding care to the other patients who rely on our hospital, has been a huge and unprecedented challenge that I’m proud our staff at Salisbury Hospital have risen to.” </s> Former double agent Sergei Skripal has been discharged from Salisbury Hospital more than two months after he and his daughter were poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent, the hospital has said.

The Skripals were found unconscious on a bench in the English cathedral city of Salisbury on March 4.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said the pair were attacked with a military-grade nerve agent from the Novichok group of poisons, developed by the Soviet Union.

Russia has denied Britain's charges of involvement in the first known offensive use of such a nerve agent on European soil since World War II.

It has suggested Britain carried out the attack itself to stoke anti-Russian hysteria.

Salisbury District Hospital said that all three people hospitalised in the attack — Sergei and Yulia Skripal as well as a police officer who came to their assistance — had now been released.

The Skripals have been taken to an undisclosed location for their safety.

"We have been able to discharge Sergei Skripal," said Lorna Wilkinson, director of nursing at the hospital.

Sergei Skripal is a former Russian intelligence officer who was convicted of spying for Britain before coming to the UK as part of a 2010 prisoner swap.

He had been living quietly in the cathedral city of Salisbury, 145 kilometres south-west of London, when he was struck down.

Yulia Skripal, 33, recovered more quickly than her 66-year-old father and was discharged last month.

The police officer who was also exposed to the poison was discharged from hospital two weeks after the incident. </s> London: Sergei Skripal, a former Russian spy who was poisoned by a nerve agent in Britain more than two months ago, has been discharged from hospital, England's health service said on Friday.

Sergei Skripal, 66, a former colonel in Russia's military intelligence who betrayed dozens of agents to Britain, and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a public bench in the southern English city of Salisbury on March 4.

Britain has accused Russia of being behind the nerve agent attack and Western governments including the United States have expelled over 100 Russian diplomats. Russia has denied any involvement in the poisoning and has retaliated in kind.

The Skripals were in a critical condition for weeks and doctors at one point feared that, even if they survived, they might have suffered brain damage. But their health began to improve rapidly, and Yulia was discharged last month.

"It is fantastic news that Sergei Skripal is well enough to leave Salisbury District Hospital," the hospital's Chief Executive Cara Charles-Barks said in a statement. </s> LONDON — Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal has been discharged from a British hospital, more than two months after he was poisoned with nerve agent, hospital officials in the United Kingdom said Friday.

Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were found unresponsive on a bench in Salisbury, a city in southern England, on March 4. The two were taken to Salisbury District Hospital in critical condition.

Yulia Skripal was discharged from the hospital last month.

Salisbury District Hospital announced Friday that both patients have now been released. The father and daughter have been taken to an undisclosed location for their safety.

Britain says the Skripals were poisoned with Soviet-developed Novichok nerve agent and blames Russia. The Kremlin denies any responsibility. Sergei Skripal spent time in jail in Russia for passing state secrets to Britain. He was released as part of a spy swap in 2010 and moved to Salisbury.

The poisoning incident has soured relations between Russia and many British allies.

Dozens of countries including Britain and the United States have expelled over 150 Russian diplomats because of the incident, while Russia has retaliated by expelling foreign envoys.

More: Yulia Skripal, daughter of Russian former spy, discharged from Salisbury hospital after poisoning

More: List of countries and organizations that expelled Russian diplomats </s> LONDON — Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal has been discharged from a British hospital, more than two months after he was poisoned with nerve agent, hospital officials in the United Kingdom said Friday.

Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were found unresponsive on a bench in Salisbury, a city in southern England, on March 4. The two were taken to Salisbury District Hospital in critical condition.

Yulia Skripal was discharged from the hospital last month.

Salisbury District Hospital announced Friday that both patients have now been released. The father and daughter have been taken to an undisclosed location for their safety.

Britain says the Skripals were poisoned with Soviet-developed Novichok nerve agent and blames Russia. The Kremlin denies any responsibility. Sergei Skripal spent time in jail in Russia for passing state secrets to Britain. He was released as part of a spy swap in 2010 and moved to Salisbury.

The poisoning incident has soured relations between Russia and many British allies.

Dozens of countries including Britain and the United States have expelled over 150 Russian diplomats because of the incident, while Russia has retaliated by expelling foreign envoys.

London's Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) said it was continuing to investigate the poisonings as attempted murders.

"This is a complex investigation and detectives continue to gather and piece together all the evidence to establish the full facts and circumstances behind this dreadful attack," the MPS said in a statement.



 "In the interests of Sergei and Yulia’s safety, we will not be discussing any protective or security arrangements that are in place," the statement added.

More: Yulia Skripal, daughter of Russian former spy, discharged from Salisbury hospital after poisoning

More:List of countries and organizations that expelled Russian diplomats </s> The daughter of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal has been discharged from hospital more than five weeks after the Salisbury poisoning.

Yulia Skripal has been allowed to leave Salisbury District Hospital in Wiltshire after making a remarkable recovery from the nerve agent attack.

It is believed the 33-year-old is now in a safe location.

Her former double agent dad, 66, remains hospitalised, but will hopefully also be released "in due course", hospital officials said this morning.

Speaking at a press conference, medical director Dr Christine Blanshard said both of the pair "have responded exceptionally well" to treatment.

She said they have received round-the-clock care from clinicians, but are at different stages, with Sergei "recovering more slowly than Yulia".

Scroll down for the hospital's full statement

Announcing the update on Yulia, Dr Blanshard said: "This is not the end of her treatment but marks a significant milestone."

She added that Sergei has "also made good progress".

"On Friday I announced he was no longer in a critical condition," she said.

"Although he is recovering more slowly than Yulia, we hope that he too will be able to leave hospital in due course."

Shortly after the update, the Russian Embassy said it needed "urgent proof" that the actions taken with Yulia are being "done on her own free will".

It tweeted: "We congratulate Yulia Skripal on her recovery. Yet we need urgent proof that what is being done to her is done on her own free will."

Doctors had previously said Yulia's health was quickly improving after she and Sergei were poisoned by the nerve agent Novichok last month.

Today, her family in Russia said they were "pleased" by the news of her discharge - but called on Britain to provide proof of it.

Her cousin, Viktoria Skripal, said that without such proof, she found the reports of her release "hard to believe" and difficult to "comprehend".

The 45-year-old said: "I heard news about her being discharged today, and my heart jumped. Have you seen her? How was she? No?

"Has anyone in fact seen her? They must let us see her."

She added: "I am so confused about the news.

"I wish I could see at least a glimpse of her leaving the hospital.

"Honestly I find it hard to believe it and can't quite comprehend it.

“I think I'll start believing it when I can at least see her, and better hug and see her face to face."

Viktoria claimed neither she nor her relatives had received a call or a message about Yulia's discharge.

In an interview with Sky News, she said: "I'm feeling pleased that she's well enough to be released from hospital."

But she added: "So far my feelings are unclear because I have not seen her and nobody has seen her, we've just had information."

Yulia and Sergei had been left fighting for their lives after being found slumped on a bench near a shopping centre in the cathedral city on March 4.

The pair were in a critical condition at the hospital for almost a month, but in recent weeks, medics said both of their health had improved rapidly.

And today, Dr Blanshard confirmed: "We have now discharged Yulia."

It understood the young woman was taken to a secure location after leaving hospital, according to the BBC.

While some reports have claimed the Skripals could be resettled in the US after their release, others say Yulia could seek political asylum in the UK.

Viktoria claimed today that the pair would not be safe if they end up being relocated to America, possibly with new identities.

"I can't say if it's safe for them in Russia or if it's safe for them to remain there (UK), but the unsafest place is America,” she said.

In an earlier interview, the cousin had said Yulia would seek asylum.

She claimed to have recorded a phone conversation with the young woman while she was still in hospital, according to Russia's RIA news agency.

Speaking to a Russian TV talk show, Viktoria reportedly said: "I know that Yulia Skripal's statement about political asylum is coming already."

Last week, Yulia had issued a statement via police, saying her strength was growing daily and she had received many messages of goodwill.

The news of her discharge from hospital comes after she was apparently recorded saying her father was "sleeping" and "resting".

In the unverified recording, sent to Russian state broadcaster Russia 1, she also apparently said "nobody has got anything they won’t recover from".

The recording was played at the same time as Yulia released an official statement via the Met Police, thanking Salisbury locals for coming to her aid and hospital staff for their "care and professionalism".

In the statement, released on Thursday, she said: “I woke up over a week ago now and am glad to say my strength is growing daily. I am grateful for the interest in me and for the many messages of goodwill that I have received.

“I have many people to thank for my recovery and would especially like to mention the people of Salisbury that came to my aid when my father and I were incapacitated. Further than that, I would like to thank the staff at Salisbury District Hospital for their care and professionalism.

“I am sure you appreciate that the entire episode is somewhat disorientating, and I hope that you’ll respect my privacy and that of my family during the period of my convalescence.”

Sergei, a former colonel in Russia's GRU military intelligence service who came to Britain in 2010, is also no longer in a critical condition.

On Friday, doctors said the father was "responding well to treatment, improving rapidly and no longer in a critical condition". But the Foreign Office has said the pair are likely go have "ongoing medical needs".

Yulia and Sergei's dramatic health improvements reportedly forced UK authorities to consider measures to protect them after their discharge from hospital.

And the authorities appear to have taken such measures, with Yulia apparently now in a safe place following her release.

Her father became a British citizen when he arrived in the country eight years ago as part of a high-profile spy swap. Neighbours have told of how he is a "quiet" man who dresses casually and drives a BMW.

The poisoning has sparked a major diplomatic row between Russia and the UK, plunging relations between the nations to an all-time low.

Britain says Yulia and Sergei were poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent and has blamed Russia for the attack.

However, Moscow has denied any involvement in the incident.

"My name is Dr Christine Blanshard and I'm the medical director here at Salisbury District Hospital. I am joined by Lorna Wilkinson our director of nursing.

"I want to give you an update on the progress of the two remaining inpatients that we are treating here at the Hospital - Sergei and Yulia Skripal.

"I will not be taking questions following this statement.

"Following the incident on March 4, Salisbury District Hospital received three people who required inpatient care - Sergei and Yulia Skripal and DS Nick Bailey, who was discharged on March 22nd.

"All three had been exposed to a nerve agent - a highly toxic chemical which aims to prevent the nervous system from functioning.

"In the four weeks since the incident in the city centre, both have received round the clock care from our clinicians, who've been able to draw in advice and support from world leading experts in this field.

"We've been keeping you updated on the condition of Yulia and Sergei, whilst respecting the right to privacy to which they - and all our patients - are entitled.

"While I won't go into great detail about the treatment we've been providing, I will say that nerve agents work by attaching themselves to a particular enzyme in the body which then stops the nerves from working properly. This results in symptoms such as sickness and hallucinations.

"Our job in treating the patients has been to stabilise them - ensuring that the patients could breathe and that blood could continue to circulate. We then needed to use a variety of different drugs to support the patients until they could create more enzymes to replace those affected by the poisoning.

"We also used specialised decontamination techniques to remove any residual toxins.

"Both patients have responded exceptionally well to the treatment we've been providing. But equally, both patients are at different stages in their recovery.

"We have now discharged Yulia from Salisbury District Hospital. Yulia has asked for privacy from the media and I want to reiterate that request.

"I also want to take this opportunity to wish Yulia well. This is not the end of her treatment, but marks a significant milestone.

"Her father has also made good progress. On Friday I announced that he was no longer in a critical condition. Although he is recovering more slowly than Yulia, we hope that he too will be able to leave hospital in due course.

"Finally, I want to pay tribute to the staff here at Salisbury District Hospital. The past few weeks have been enormously testing on all our staff. They have pulled together, not just to deliver outstanding care to the individuals caught up in these terrible events, but to all our patients as they do day in, day out. Both our clinical staff and our staff behind the scenes have been a credit to the hospital, to the NHS and to Salisbury as a city. </s> LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) - Sergei Skripal, a former Russian spy poisoned by a nerve agent in Britain in March, has been discharged from hospital, England's health service said on Friday.

Skripal was found collapsed on a bench on March 4 in the southern English city of Salisbury along with his daughter, who was discharged from hospital last month.

"It is fantastic news that Sergei Skripal is well enough to leave Salisbury District Hospital," the hospital's Chief Executive Cara Charles-Barks said in a statement.

Britain has accused Russia of being behind the nerve agent attack and Western governments including the United States have expelled over 100 Russian diplomats. Russia has denied any involvement in the poisoning and has retaliated in kind. (Reporting by Alistair Smout and Michael Holden Editing by William Schomberg) </s> LONDON (Reuters) - A British police officer, one of the first to respond to the poisoning of a former Russian double agent, was released from hospital on Thursday after more than two weeks of treatment, officials said.

Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey was left seriously ill after taking part in the early response to the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the southern English city of Salisbury on March 4.

“People ask me how I am feeling – but there are really no words to explain how I feel right now,” he said in statement issued by his local force. “Surreal is the word that keeps cropping up - and it really has been completely surreal.”
Sergei Skripal is discharged from hospital after two months.