Day Hospice (Moray) (Hansard, 27 February 1998)

§ Mrs. Margaret Ewing (Moray)
It is with great honour and humility that I present to the House a petition signed by 8,000 of my constituents, which represents 10 per cent. of the total population of Moray. Those signatures were collected in approximately eight weeks against the difficulties of holiday periods and, indeed, blizzards.
The petition seeks the establishment of a day hospice in Moray. My constituency is a caring community. In the years since I have been elected to represent the area, I have consistently been impressed by the generosity of the community, which is shown by the fact that we raised money to site a scanner in our area and to establish a central maternity unit for our constituents because, of course, in the highlands of Scotland distance is of great importance.
In presenting the petition, I am conscious of the fact that people in the areas surrounding Moray are keen for 606 the hospice to be established because it would save journeys to Inverness and Aberdeen. We can all appreciate the importance of ensuring that families are in contact with relatives suffering from terminal illness. We greatly appreciate the work done by our community hospitals and the Macmillan nurses—

§ Madam Speaker
Order. The hon. Lady is a long-standing Member of the House. She should know that, when presenting a petition, she should confine herself to only a few points to explain what it is about and then present it. The ruling on that is in Standing Order No. 153. Hon. Members who wish to present petitions should look at that Standing Order before so doing. The hon. Lady must now come to an end and present the petition.

§ Mrs. Ewing
I appreciate that, Madam Speaker, but you will appreciate the strength of opinion in my area.
I will read out the petition, which relates to seamless care. It states: Unto the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. The Humble Petition of concerned Citizens of Moray, including the Moray Hospice Steering Committee Humbly Sheweth That your Petitioners are concerned that the health and wellbeing of those residents of Moray who endure long-term and terminal illness be safeguarded and enhanced by the provision of proper Palliative care in the area; That it is acknowledged that such provision can best be made by the speedy establishment of a Day Hospice in Moray to complement Community Hospitals and other existing services; Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House Graciously Commend to The Right Honourable the Secretary of State for Scotland to have particular regard for the need for a Day Hospice in Moray during the current review of Health Care provision in the Grampian Health Board area; And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.