§ Mr. Christopher Price (Lewisham, West)I beg to ask leave to present a petition, together with a further document containing 7,873 signatures of my constituents and others in South-East London, asking that health cuts be restored and their representative health authority members be reinstated.
My constituents emphasise that in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham the worst of inner city deprivation exists side by side with three of the most famous teaching hospitals in Britain—Guy's, St. Thomas' and King's—which take patients from all over the country and perform expensive operations. Heart operations at King's are already in jeopardy, as is the renowned Sydenham children's hospital, in my constituency. The much-needed mental handicap and mental illness facili- 1930 ties in the area are also in jeopardy. Those problems can be solved only by more money being given now to health services in the area.
The petition reads:
To the honourable the Commons of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.The humble Petition of citizens of southeast London sheweth:That Government expenditure cuts in the health services pose a great risk to the lives and health of hospital patients in the London boroughs of Lewisham, Lambeth and Southwark.Wherefore your Petitioners humbly pray that your honourable House will support the members of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Area Health Authority in their decision not to implement cuts in hospital spending and will demand the immediate reinstatement of the members of the Area Health Authority who have been suspended.And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.
§ To lie upon the Table.