5000 More Petition Signatures Pour In As Consultation Period Nears End

4.54.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 1st Jun 2007

As the Primary Care Trust's (PCT) consultation period on cottage hospitals comes to an end, North Norfolk Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb is sending his response to the PCT. He is also delivering a further 5,000 signatures on the Liberal Democrat 'Hands Off Our Hospitals' petition to the Government.

"The support for our community beds and hospitals has been absolutely tremendous," says Mr Lamb. "Communities have a deep attachment to their local hospitals. So many people that I've spoken to have personal experiences to share of their own care in these hospitals, and also the care of relatives and close friends.

"They serve a clear clinical need, particularly with an elderly local population living in a very rural area."

The Liberal Democrats submitted 8,000 petition signatures from across Norfolk earlier in the year, and the total number of signatures collected by the Party is now 13,000. The PCT consultation 'Our Health, Our Care: Have Your Say' closes on 5 June.