Drummer Mike Portnoy has made an apology via his official Facebook page following his angry statement on Saturday night regarding healthcare in the UK, which promoted thousands of comments on his page. You can read the full statement below:

“I’d just like to apologize to anybody I offended with yesterday’s post…it was not a personal attack or rage against England’s health care system in general (of which I know nothing about)…Yesterday I was the sickest I’ve EVER been in my life.
The paramedics came to see me at the gig and then decided to take me to the emergency room, only for the ambulance to run out of gas and I was then driven to the hospital by a very kind fan who offered to help. Neal & I calmly waited in the A&E without any indication from any of the staff of when I would be seen. I did NOT expect any special treatment or wanted to be put ahead of anybody else in need. (as I have been so wrongly accused)…we only wanted some (ANY!) answers as the clock was ticking until showtime…
At 7:45, I had to make the decision to continue to wait and cancel the show…or leave without being seen in order to make the 8pm show. I desperately did NOT want to disappoint the fans and made the decision to leave in order to make the show. I played the show in the worst physical condition of my life.
I’m sure you can imagine how frustrating this experience was and I stupidly posted about it on my social media. I am shocked and appauled at some of the rude and downright nasty comments that have been posted in the wake of this…really, 10x worse than my post. It’s sad to see such hatred…but whatever, I can suck it up and take it. I surely never meant for such attention and controversy.
Thank you to everybody that cared and sent me well wishes and prayers…the positive vibes will help me on the road to recovery.
In any case, I really need to crawl back in my bunk, get off the internet to try and recooperate…but I wanted to address this issue and explain what happened and apologize to whomever I offended.”

On Saturday after already having to cancel his meet and greet with fans, before Mike was due to go on stage with the Neal Morse Band, he stated:

“A very special NO THANKS to the staff at the Whittington Hospital for NOT seeing me regardless of telling them that there is an audience waiting for our show to begin…I finally left withOUT seeing a doctor in order to make tonight’s show…I have no idea how the hell I’m going to make it through this show…I can’t even stand up or lift my arms… : (”

Mike went ahead with the show and the band are continuing their tour in support of their latest album “The Grand Experiment.”