§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield)I have the duty, responsibility and honour to present to this honourable House a petition on behalf of the people of Congleton and district, and also on behalf of the people of Biddulph and district, who object most strongly to the intention of the Macclesfield district health authority to close the maternity unit at the War Memorial hospital in Congleton. The petition is signed by approximately 11,000 people of the districts I have named.
I wish the House to know that my hon. Friend the Member for Leek (Mr. Knox) fully supports his constituents who are involved in the petition in the stand which they are taking in opposition to the closure of this valuable maternity unit, which is serving one of the fastest growing areas in Cheshire.
The Merseyside regional health authority said only three years ago that the area covered by the Macclesfield area health authority, as it was then, required 72 maternity beds. Currently we have a mere 52 maternity beds and with the closure of the unit that number will be further reduced to just 41. People in the area feel deeply about it—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman must not make a long speech; he must present his petition.
§ Mr. WintertonI accede to your request, Mr. Speaker, and appreciate the limited scope of presenting a petition in the House.
I speak on behalf of a large number of people who will be adversely affected by this closure and who wish the district health authority and the Secretary of State for Social Services to review the situation.
The petition concludes:
Wherefore your petitioners pray that the House do all in its power to influence the Secretary of State to ensure that the maternity unit at the Congleton War Memorial hospital is retained and that this unit is further developed to serve the expanding local community.And your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray &c.
§ To lie upon the Table.