Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con): May we have an urgent debate on the reason why seven beds have been cut from ward 4-the acute medicines ward-at the Princess Royal hospital in my constituency? Before the Leader of the House says something about human resources at the hospital, may I give him an up-to-date briefing? Some 200 nurses and doctors are due to be cut as well.

Newport MP, Mark Pritchard, has called upon people throughout Newport to "make their views known loud and clear" as the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Hospital Trust begins its delayed public consultation over the future of acute hospital services.

Mr Pritchard also confirmed that his Parliamentary petition, which is aiming to stop cuts to local hospital services now stands at over 10,000 people with hundreds of Newport residents having signed the petition.

Mr Pritchard said:

Wrekin MP, Mark Pritchard, has written to Labour's Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt MP, "protesting" about plans to downgrade children's services at the Princess Royal Hospital.

The MP said:
"Plans to downgrade children's services serve as a stark warning that their is very little transparency in this government. The staff at the hospital and the local community deserve far better and that is why I will fight these plans all the way".

Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con): May I put on record my thanks to both public and private sector cleaners? The trouble is, however, that often they are cleaning wards that are full of litter from the Government's bureaucracy and red tape. To be serious, is the Minister confident that MRSA, VRSA and ESBL superbugs have left the Princess Royal hospital in Shropshire? If he cannot tell the House that they have done so, why has the only isolation unit in Shropshire at the Princess Royal hospital been closed?

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on mental health services in the West Midlands. [85858]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Total investment in mental health services within the new West Midlands strategic health authority has increased to over £499 million in 2005-06. This represents an increase of 5.1 per cent. from the £475 million investment in the three former strategic health authorities in 2004-05.

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment she has made of fertility services in Shropshire. [81849]

It is absolutely wrong that people who are suffering from debilitating illnesses are denied access to the very drugs that can make them better, prolong their life, and increase the quality of their life.

Mark Pritchard: Does the hon. Gentleman agree that mental health services may suffer worst as a consequence of the Government's so-called reconfiguration of health services? That means that more people will be wandering around our communities who should be receiving day-to-day care and should perhaps be looked after in the community, but who should certainly not be abandoned with no support and no treatment as a result of the Government's reforms.

Wrekin MP, Mark Pritchard, has called for the "reopening" of the isolation ward at the Princess Royal Hospital and a similar unit to be opened at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

The MP's comments come in the wake of a new suspected outbreak of MRSA at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Mr Pritchard said:
"The isolation unit at the PRH closed last December. The events in Shrewsbury prove that superbugs have not gone away and neither have the serious consequences to both patients and staff if these bugs are not isolated quickly".

Wrekin MP, Mark Pritchard, has called upon hospital chiefs to "be completely transparent and open" over plans by the hospital Trust to reconfigure hospital services at the Princess Royal Hospital.

The MP made his appeal in advance of a 12 week formal public consultation exercise by hospital chiefs, which will include hearing the views of local residents, parish councils, community groups, and other public and private sector organisations.