HC Deb 27 October 1987 vol 121 c273

10 pm

Mr. Denis Howell (Birmingham, Small Heath)

I wish to present to the House a humble petition from the kidney and cancer patients of the west midlands and others, who wish to draw our attention to the parlous state of kidney treatment in Birmingham, especially at the Queen Elizabeth hospital, because the appropriate authorities ordered that 100 patients on the free dialysis list should not be treated before April 1988. Consequently, considerable danger to their lives may follow. It also calls attention to the inequalities of funding between regions, which has helped to bring that about.

The petition deplores, as I do, the fact that the brilliant consultants who are treating those patients have been instructed not to do so before April 1988. They have been told that they will face disciplinary action if they continue to save lives in that way. It also draws attention to the fact that, contrary to statute and regulation in the National Health Service, the Central Birmingham community health council was not consulted, as is required, before the closures took place. Consequently the public and the patients, especially the kidney and cancer patients, did not have their views represented in the discussions.

The petitioners, the kidney and cancer patients of the west midlands and others, pray

that your honourable House: — Appoint a Select Committee or ask the Social Services committee to report urgently:—

  1. i)On the inequalities of provision for cancer and kidney patients in different parts of the United Kingdom and how this can be improved.
  2. ii)On why there was a 39 per cent. cut in cancer treatments at the Queen Elizabeth hospital when 10 per cent. of those on the waiting list were already dying from cancer "which could have been checked if treated earlier".
  3. iii)On why the Queen Elizabeth's Kidney Unit was underfunded below the DHSS's minimum target or patients' needs.
  4. iv)On why the Community Health Council was not properly consulted on these cuts and the need to improve the CHC Regulations to prevent lack of consultation.
And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

To lie upon the Table.

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