I am pleased to confirm that I have now signed EDM 1104, which has been tabled by Ed Miliband and supported by Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham.  I am aware that many people are concerned about Government plans for the NHS which could force doctors to privatise more of the NHS, and this EDM aims to block those plans.

This is the full text of the EDM:

EDM 1104: National Health Service
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the National Health Service (Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition) Regulations 2013 (S.I., 2013, No. 257), dated 11 February 2013, a copy of which was laid before this House on 13 February, be annulled.

This week I have tabled further written questions for answer by the Secretary of State for Health:

Dame Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):
If he will publish the number of times the 4 hour waiting target was breached at each London A&E department in quarter 1 and quarter 2 2012/2013.

Dame Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):
If he will publish the number of times that ambulances waited more than 15 minutes to discharge their patients at A&E departments at each of the hospitals in London in 2012.

Dame Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):
What assessment has been made of the downgrade of Lewisham A&E department on the role of Kings College Hospital as a major trauma centre in the event of a major or regional disaster.

UPDATE: You can read the department's response to the first two questions here and the answer to the third question here.  We are still awaiting answers to the first two.

Today I took part in a Commons Backbench debate on accident and emergency departments.  Sadly many of my colleagues in the House are also currently fighting to save local A&E departments all over the country.

The debate provided another opportunity for me to raise the plight of Lewisham Hospital A&E and maternity services in the Commons.  You can read the transcript of my speech in Hansard or watch the debate in full below (the debate begins at 14:04 and my main speech begins at 14:42).  

On Friday I tabled the following written questions for answer by the Secretary of State for Health.  They are due to be answered on Wednesday or Thursday this week.

Dame Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish in full the advice to him by Sir Bruce Keogh on option 5 of the Trust Special Administrator's report to him on the South London Healthcare Trust and Lewisham Hospital.

Dame Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Statement of 31 January 2013, Official Report, columns 1072-5, on South London Healthcare NHS Trust, what the evidence is for his statement that 100 lives would be saved each year if the reorganisation of Lewisham Hospital were undertaken as proposed by Sir Bruce Keogh.

Dame Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Statement of 31 January 2013, Official Report, columns 1072-5, on South London Healthcare NHS Trust, what factors will determine whether the continuing rate of usage of maternity services at Lewisham is 10 per cent or 60 per cent.

Dame Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Statement of 31 January 2013, Official Report, columns 1072-5, on South London Healthcare NHS Trust, what the evidential basis is for his statement that journey times to an accident and emergency department would be on average one minute longer in a blue light transfer and two to three minutes longer for private or public transport.

UPDATE: You can read the department's responses here.