Government Whip Godfrey Farrugia has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

The Labour MP declared this in a Facebook post in which he said he will be undergoing surgery in the next fortnight.

This is his full post:

"Dear friends,

First of all I cannot thank you enough for your support and good wishes.

Secondly, I would like to tell you what is happening.

It all started when during routine screening blood tests, it transpired that my PSA result was abnormally high.
Obviously I sought a specialist consultation, who in turn directed me towards MRI, which resulted that I have two new growths in my prostate gland.

The next step was a biopsy which had to be repeated. As a complication of that intervention, it transpired that I developed a very high temperature which landed me in hospital after trying to battle it out for three days at home.

In the meantime, the results of the biopsy confirmed that I have aggressive cancer of the prostate, which requires radical surgery or radiotherapy.

Such procedures are routinely carried out in a London Hospital. Therefore, as soon as the necessary arrangements are made, I will undergo surgery to eradicate the tumour.

Hopefully, within fifteen days from surgery, I will be up and about delivering my Parliamentary duties with the usual vigour....

I wish to thank Mr Mattocks and his team who together with nursing personnel and ancillary staff are doing their best to provide me with the best of care.

I will keep you posted."