Bradford Health Authority (Hansard, 22 April 1988)

§ Mr. Max Madden (Bradford, West)
I wish to present a petition on behalf of more than 2,000 of my constituents, including Elizabeth Evans of 93 Eskdale rise, Allerton and Maureen Woods of 82 Sunningdale, Bradford 8.
The petition calls for additional funding to be made available to the Bradford health authority, bearing in mind the extent of ill health throughout the district, especially the infant mortality rate, which is well above the national average. Sad to say, more babies die in Bradford than anywhere else in the country. There is also concern at the closure of the maternity ward B3 at St. Luke's hospital, the referral of some family planning advice from the National Health Service clinics to general practitioners, and cuts in the community nursing service.
The petition urges the Government: to take action to ensure Bradford Health Authority does not go into deficit necessitating cuts in expenditure of more than £2 million over the next two years: To improve patient services which will inevitably be impaired if expenditure cuts are implemented; and to prevent more effectively illness in Bradford much of which arises from the consequences of unemployment and poverty throughout the district. And your Petitioners, as in duty hound, will ever pray that your Honourable House will enact legislation to provide the necessary funding for the National Health Service to operate to its full capacity in Bradford.

§ Mr. Pat Wall (Bradford, North)
I wish to present a petition on behalf of 1,788 of my constituents. The petition opposes the proposed cut of £2 million in the expenditure of Bradford health authority in the next two years. That expenditure is especially vital because Bradford is one of the most socially deprived towns of Britain. For every 100 middle-aged men who die of heart disease in the rest of the country, 140 die in the city of Bradford. The life expectancy of a girl born in the city of Bradford is two and a half years less than that of her sister who is born elsewhere in the country.
I present the petition, which has been signed by nearly 1,800 of my constituents, because we believe that the Government could well find the money that is necessary for our Health Service not only to maintain it but to improve it. It says: Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House will urge the Government to take action to ensure Bradford Health Authority does not go into deficit necessiting cuts in expenditure of more than £2 million over the next two years: To improve patient services which will inevitably be impaired if expenditure cuts are implemented; and to prevent more effectively illness in Bradford much of which arises from the consequences of unemployment and poverty throughout the district.

§ Mr. Bob Cryer (Bradford, South)
I have great pleasure in presenting a petition from my constituents, with more than 2,000 signatures. It was brought down during the night by a group of nurses from hospitals in Bradford who are concerned about the £2 million cuts decided by the Bradford area health authority. The nurses who organised the petition felt so concerned that they gave up their own time to travel through the night to give us the petitions so that we can present them to the House.
The nurses are worried because, last year, there were authenticated reports of babies being turned away from the acute baby unit of the Bradford royal infirmary. I am told by some of the nurses that newly qualified nurses who wish to take further courses are not given that opportunity because of expenditure cuts, even though the administrators would like them to achieve further qualifications. Nurses are unable to do so because the courses are inadequately funded.
The petition is an expression of concern by nurses and a strong sample of more than 2,000 people in Bradford, South about the National Health Service. We are concerned because the Prime Minister does not care about the National Health Service and this petition shows—

§ Mr. Eric Forth (Mid-Worcestershire)
On a point of order—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I do not think I need a point of order. The hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer) must not make a speech or accusations of that kind when presenting a petition.

§ Mr. Cryer
I am reflecting the views of the people of Bradford and this petition is an expression of their concern.

§ Mr. Speaker
I am sure it is.

§ Mr. Cryer
I am grateful to you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to present this petition on behalf of the 2,000 signatories and of nurses and health workers in Bradford.