COMMUNITY HOSPITALS IN CUMBRIA

Early day motion 1306, tabled 20 December 2005 by Lord Blencathra (Conservative). Signed by 37 members.

That this House notes that more than 2,000 people from all over North Cumbria marched through Penrith on 15th December to protest against the closure of community hospitals, the largest demonstration in living memory; believes that the closure plans are ill thought out and that travelling nurses cannot give the same level of 24-hour care as community hospitals; further believes that bed blocking in the acute hospitals will increase and the cost of nursing home care will far exceed any savings made by the closures; and calls on the Government to end its discrimination against rural areas and cancel these closure plans.

Signatures by party: Conservative 32, DUP 2, Liberal Democrat 2, UUP 1.