§ Mr. David Amess (Southend, West)I have the honour to present a petition that has been signed by more than 21,500 people. The level of support for the petition demonstrates the very high esteem in which people have held the Lady McAdden breast screening unit for more than 24 years. The petitioners wish to express their concern at the way in which changing patterns of health care have impacted on the viability of the unit.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Secretary of State for Health to investigate and resolve the problems the Lady McAdden Breast Unit is experiencing within the South Essex Health Authority; to facilitate the restoration to the Unit of full access to appropriate facilities and referrals to the Southend Hospital NHS Trust and Southend Breast Unit; to facilitate the restoration to the Unit of the ability to screen all women by palpation with full consent from the Royal College of Nursing, the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing and women themselves without fear of litigation; to review the conclusions of the 1998 White Paper on the availability of breast screening services to women under the age of 50 and the method of screening by palpation; to include screening for women under the age of 50 in the NHS screening programme; and to guarantee that the present activities of the Unit and its staff may continue without interference pending the Commission for Health Improvement's consideration of cancer services.And your petitioners remain, etc.
§ To lie upon the Table.