HC Deb 14 November 1988 vol 140 c760 4.16 pm
Rev. Ian Paisley (Antrim, North)

I beg 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 29.5 per cent. of all acute beds in the Ulster hospital, Dundonald, Belfast, which includes a third of the total number of plastic surgery beds and a half of the gynaecological beds. Coming on top of the closing of many hospitals in Northern Ireland and of many beds in the Royal Victoria hospital and the Musgrave Park hospital, and coming on top of the row about the unfair grading of nurses, the announcement which was made at the weekend has been a body blow to the people of Northern Ireland.

Plastic surgery is an important part of hospitalisation in Northern Ireland because of terrorist activity and the need for the victims of terrorist activity to have that facility available. One third of the total number of plastic surgery beds are to be closed. Surely the Government should preserve, and not guillotine, this type of service.

The matter is urgent because there is no other forum in Northern Ireland where we can democratically discuss this matter, because the boards in Northern Ireland responsible for the administration of hospitals are nominated boards, with the Ministers' placemen the majority on them. I press you, Sir, to give the House an opportunity to discuss this matter.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he believes should have urgent consideration, namely,

the closing of 29.5 per cent. of the acute beds in the Ulster hospital, Belfast, which includes a third of the plastic surgery beds and 50 per cent. of the gynaecological beds in the entire hospital. I have listened to the hon. Member with great care, but I regret that I must give him the same answer that I gave the hon. Member for Dunfermline, East (Mr. Brown). I cannot see that the hon. Member's application meets the criteria of Standing Order No. 20, and therefore cannot submit his application to the House.