CONSERVATIVE
New Forest East

BUSINESS QUESTION – WOODHAVEN HOSPITAL - 15 September 2011

BUSINESS QUESTION – WOODHAVEN HOSPITAL - 15 September 2011

Mr Speaker: Order. We are short of time. May I appeal to colleagues to ask single, short – one sentence – business questions of the Leader of the House? This would be a dramatic breakthrough and of benefit to the House as a whole. I know that a fine example will be set by the hon. Member for New Forest East.

Dr Julian Lewis: I was afraid that you were going to pick me, Mr Speaker. May we have a debate on the importance of in-patient beds in acute mental health facilities, given that those at Woodhaven hospital in my constituency face the possibility of closure, unless people write in urgently to the consultation that is under way?

The Leader of the House of Commons (Sir George Young): I understand my hon. Friend's concern. As he says, a consultation process is under way to which I urge him to respond, although I am sure that he has already done so. I know that others will have heard our exchange and that if they share his concern, they also will write to the NHS trust.

Mr Speaker: I am pleased to say that they will also have heard the single sentence from the hon. Member for New Forest East, and I feel sure that they will have appreciated it.