Gerald Ford admitted to hospital for unspecified tests

Former US President Ford has been admitted to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for testing and evaluation.

A statement from his office gave no details about why the 93-year-old went to the clinic in Rochester, about 75 miles south-east of Minneapolis.

“No further releases or updates are anticipated prior to early next week,” said the statement issued from Ford’s office in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Ford also has a home in Rancho Mirage, California.

Mayo Clinic spokesman John Murphy confirmed that Ford had been admitted, but said he had no additional information. He did not expect Ford’s family or the clinic to disclose any details immediately.

A California friend, Lee Simmons, said he heard in the past two days that Ford planned to undergo a series of tests for various “medical problems”. He did not have details, but said he believed the tests had been planned in advance.

“I did hear that they want to do a series of tests to make sure he’s OK and improve his quality of life,” said Simmons, of Palm Desert.

Simmons said he visited Ford last week at the former president’s holiday home in Beaver Creek.

“I just saw him and he was doing fine. He’s talking. His mind is sharp … he’s eating, talking to his family,” Simmons said.

Last month, Ford spent a few days in Colorado’s Vail Valley Medical Centre because of shortness of breath. In January, he was admitted to hospital for 12 days in Rancho Mirage for treatment of pneumonia.

Ford suffered two small strokes five years ago and spent about a week in a hospital.

He became the USA’s oldest living former president after the death of Ronald Reagan in 2004.

Ford was House minority leader when President Nixon chose him to replace the resigned Spiro Agnew as vice president in 1973. Ford became president on August 9, 1974, when Nixon resigned amid the Watergate scandal.