KERRY Packer was in hospital last night after falling ill at lunchtime. It is understood he was taken to the dialysis ward at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital by ambulance.

Mr Packer, 62, underwent a kidney transplant at the hospital on November 22 last year after a kidney was donated by his long-time friend and helicopter pilot, Nick Ross.

Since then Mr Packer has been in and out of hospital for what have been described as routine follow-ups.

His daughter, Gretel, visited him in hospital last night.

Sources said he was feeling “chipper” yesterday afternoon and sitting up in bed.

The hospital declined to comment last night, as did James Packer’s office at the family’s listed company, Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd. “There isn’t any comment,” a spokeswoman said.

Mr Packer has been plagued by health problems. He had one kidney removed because of cancer in 1989 and a year later suffered a heart attack. He was told about 2 1/2 years ago his remaining kidney was failing.