HC Deb 03 May 1988 vol 132 c735

4.4 pm

Rev. Ian Paisley (Antrim, North)

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 20, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the closing of the Cushendall hospital and the axing of acute hospital services at Dalmiadia hospital, Ballycastle, and at the Route hospital, Ballymoney. Those hospitals, along with others, have served a population of 37,000 people. The axing of them and of acute hospital services in my constituency means that some of my constituents will have to travel up to 25 miles to obtain acute hospital services. All the other boards in Northern Ireland will, even after the cuts, have more acute hospital beds available to them than will the constituency of North Antrim, whose board area also stretches into part of Londonderry. If the Government wish to implement a policy that leaves only 500 beds available in an area of 370,000 people, then the Government are saying to the people that they are not interested in the health care of the community.

We have received warnings that in the coming days there will be more IRA attacks and that more innocent people will be gunned down. Those people will need acute hospital services to be available to them. This is the only place where I, as a public representative, can raise this matter. I raise it today and ask that the House gives time to discussing it.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman asked leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 20, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he believes should have urgent consideration, namely, the closing of the Cushendall hospital and the axing of hospital services at Dalmaidia hospital, Ballycastle, and at the Route hospital, Ballymoney. I listened with concern to what was said by the hon. Gentleman, and I can well understand the impact that the decisions will have on his constituency in Northern Ireland. However, I must give him the same answer that I gave to the right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn). I regret that this matter is not appropriate for discussion under Standing Order No. 20, and I cannot submit the hon. Gentleman's application to the House.