§ Mr. Robert Syms (Poole)I wish to present a petition of more than 16,800 names.
The petition states:
To the House of Commons in Parliament assembled.The petition of the patients, parents, relatives and supporters of patients and residents within the catchment area served by the Poole hospital cleft teamDeclares that the recommendations of the clinical standards advisory group for the relocation of the surgical and nursing care provided by the Poole hospital authority cleft lip and palate team to a centre in Bristol would be detrimental to the quality of care provided locally.The Poole team has been established for some 14 years under the guidance of a maxillofacial surgeon who is renowned internationally for his work in this field. This unit is already meeting the criteria as set out in the CSAG report and uses surgical techniques that minimise frequency of surgical intervention and produce excellent results.Therefore your petitioners request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Health to review the recommendations of the clinical standards advisory group to prevent the relocation and loss of service to the local community of this outstanding facility.And the Petitioners remain etc.
§ To lie upon the Table.