COMMUNITY HOSPITALS IN THE EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE

That this House recognises the excellent service provided by community hospitals in affording locally accessible healthcare; notes the strength of public opinion in favour of community hospitals; deplores the current programme of cutbacks and closures, which conflicts with the Government's commitment to community hospitals given in its Health White Paper, Our Health, Our Care, Our Say; deplores the recent decision by the East Riding of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust to consult on proposals to remove all beds at community hospitals in Beverley, Driffield, Hornsea and Withernsea; notes that residents in the East Riding place great value on local community hospital services and have been fighting non-stop to keep them open for more than two years; and calls on the Government to allow a debate on community hospitals to be held in Government time on the floor of the House.