§ Mr. Julian Brazier (Canterbury)I wish to present a petition, bearing 54,000 signatures, on behalf of people in east Kent who are against the proposed rundown of the Kent and Canterbury hospital. As it is so voluminous, I have brought just a small part of it into the Chamber. I understand that a further 140,000 signatures have been delivered to the offices of East Kent health authority.
The petition states:
The petition of the people of East Kent declares that the proposed substantial reduction of NHS services in East Kent conflicts with Government policy.The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Health to:To lie upon the Table.And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
- (i) reject the proposed downgrading of Kent and Canterbury Hospital and the relocation of specialist services outside of East Kent, and
- (ii) support general practitioners and consultants wanting to retain acute services in Thanet, Canterbury and Ashford.