There
follows the text of a message sent from Peter Viggers MP
to all Parliamentary colleagues regarding local hospitals
rally on Tuesday 16 Jan at Westminster:
Dear
Colleagues
Re:
All-Party Parliamentary Local Hospitals Group - Rally on
Tuesday, 16 January 2007
There
are many local hospitals under threat of total or partial
closure. The object of the Rally is to give individual
hospital support groups a chance to come together, express
their views, and gain media attention.
The
programme is as follows:
12.30
p.m.
- Stewards'
briefing (each Group should nominate a steward with a minimum
of one steward for 50 people) in the Lobby. Stewards should
preferably be House of Commons passholders. "Steward" armbands
will be issued. Stewards will meet for a briefing at Westminster
Flats, which is the open area inside St. Stephen's Entrance
at the top of Westminster Hall. Will you please give me
the name of your steward.
12.45
for 1 p.m.
- Rally
at King George V's statue which is behind Westminster Abbey
and opposite St. Stephen's Entrance.
1
p.m.
- Photo
opportunity. BBC, ITV stations will be present. Will you
please make contact with your own local media in advance
and make private arrangements for publicity.
From
1.10 p.m.
- Participants
to move through security into Westminster Hall.
1.15
p.m.-2.30 p.m.
- Will
be a good time for Members of Parliament to meet their
constituents. Rings of chairs will be arranged by hospital
groups in Westminster Hall and there will be a loudspeaker
and annunciator system to assist constituents to meet Members.
It will therefore not be necessary or appropriate to arrange
to meet in Central Lobby or to use the Green Card system.
Please use the Westminster Hall facilities instead.
2.30
p.m.
- Programme
starts. We are fortunate to have the historic Westminster
Hall as our venue but this imposes its own strict limits.
Microphone time is limited to 30 minutes.
- I
will chair the event which will be based on an agreed
agenda. The main presentations will be by medical professionals.
At the time of writing I have not been able to arrange
a Ministerial presence.
- The
event will end at about 4 p.m.
- I
am told that the Secretary of State, Patricia Hewitt,
will not be able to attend but she has agreed to meet
a small deputation (6 people) at 4.15 p.m.
Important
notes
- Please
advise me before Tuesday of the numbers attending from
your area.
- Please
issue to all participants a letter on the following lines:
"All-Party Parliamentary
Local Hospitals Group This is to confirm that you will
be attending the Rally at Westminster Hall on 16 January,
2007."
(This
will help with security clearance.)
Regards
Peter
Viggers |
