HC Deb 12 July 1978 vol 953 cc1505-7
Mr. Loyden

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideraation, namely, the availability of heart investigation and surgery in Liverpool". The Liverpool area health authority is suffering from a lack of facilities to meet the needs of patients suffering from heart complaints. Copies of press statements have been sent to you, Mr. Speaker, indicating that lack. Patients awaiting heart investigation and surgery are actually dying while they wait.

I have written to the Secretary of State, asked Questions in the House and gone through the normal channels of the House in order to bring this matter to the attention of Ministers concerned. Unfortunately, the Secretary of State has not seen fit to reply, except to say that he would write to me on some occasion. I have not received a reply.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I believe that you should take account of this situation in considering whether to adjourn the House and permit us to debate the matter. Recent developments indicate the importance and seriousness of the question, because an attempt has been made by the private sector of the Health Service to undermine the NHS on Merseyside by offering opportunities for patients to be removed from Liverpool to private hospitals in London where they can receive surgery that cannot be carried out on Merseyside. This is a sad reflection on the National Health Service on Merseyside.

Looking at the Government Front Bench, I think that it is a disgrace that no Minister is there to respond to the questions that are being raised about the area health authority. This is a most important matter for us all, because it involves the lives of people. Surgeons and qualified medical people in the area have made it patently clear that there is an urgent need for action.

In these circumstances, the House should adjourn to debate this matter. I am sure you will consider, Mr. Speaker, that as a Back-Bench Member I have made all the normal approaches but to no avail. No replies have been forthcoming from the Secretary of State.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Liverpool, Garston (Mr. Loyden) did me the courtesy of notifying me this morning that he would seek leave to raise a matter of specific and urgent importance under Standing Order No. 9, namely, the availability of heart investigation and surgery in Liverpool". He indicated also that press cuttings were available for me.

I have listened very carefully to what the hon. Member has said this afternoon and have also taken account of the exchanges in the House yesterday on this subject. I have no doubt about the seriousness of the matter.

However, the hon. Member knows that it is not for me to decide whether a serious matter is to be debated but whether there should be an emergency debate tonight or tomorrow night. I am directed to take account of all arguments and the several factors set out in the order but to give no reasons for my decision. I have to rule that the hon. Member's submission does not fall within the provision of the Standing Order, and therefore I cannot submit his application to the House.

Mr. Parry

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of your ruling on the application of my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Garston (Mr. Loyden), I feel that I should point out that I, too, have written to the Secretary of State and have tabled four Questions on the same subject. I hope that in view of my hon. Friend's complaint about lack of replies, the Secretary of State will give the full information tomorrow on what is obviously a disgraceful state of affairs of the lack of facilities for heart surgery on Merseyside.

Mr. Heffer

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. As my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House is sitting in his seat, could he take account of the very important points that have been made by my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Garston (Mr. Loyden) and give Government time for such a debate?

Mr. Speaker

Order. I have been very tolerant, as I always am with hon. Members who are anxious to make a point. But these are really not points of order for me.