§ Mr. Roger Moate (Faversham)I beg leave to present to the House a petition entitled Sheppey general hospital, maternity unit. I do so on behalf of Mrs. Rita Barton and over 6,500 signatories who in this way show the immense local support, admiration and affection for that vital purpose-built local amenity situated on the isle of Sheppey. The petition shows their concern that
the maternity facilities of Sheppey general hospital are being deliberately allowed to run down so that the unit can be turned into a geriatrics only unit.Those anxieties can and should be allayed immediately.The petition concludes:
Wherefore your petitioners pray that your Honourable House will request the Secretary of State for Health and Social Services to instruct the Medway district health authority to maintain all existing facilities at the Sheppey general hospital unit for maternity in its present or improved state until the proposed new Swale hospital is completed.And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
§ To lie upon the Table.