The petition of residents of the constituency of Jarrow.
Declares that it is vital that high quality, compassionate palliative and end-of-life care is accessible across the country; further declares that each person who is nearing the end of their life should feel safe in the knowledge they will receive the very best care and be supported to die peacefully and painlessly; notes that in the Jarrow constituency, St Clare’s hospice collapsed into insolvency in January 2019 after more than 30 years, leaving the borough without an end-of-life care facility; and further notes that a petition requesting to keep palliative care at the Primrose Terrace site in Jarrow, rather than setting up an alternative site elsewhere within the borough, has received 13,500 signatures.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to support the NHS South Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group in reopening the St Clare’s hospice site at Primrose Terrace, Jarrow.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Kate Osborne, Official Report, 8 September 2020; Vol. 679, c. 584.][P002595]
Observations from The Minister for Care (Helen Whately):
It is crucial that residents of the constituency of Jarrow and their families receive high quality and dignified care as they approach the end of life. The Government are aware that, following St Clare’s closure in January 2019, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), local NHS commissioners and trusts, local hospices and Hospice UK worked hard to develop a sustainable solution for St Clare’s hospice, in partnership with its management team.
We know that despite these efforts, St Clare’s financial position, sadly, could not be saved.
The priority for commissioners following the closure was to ensure that the vulnerable patients relying on the hospice could get the support they need. Following closure, arrangements were put in place to ensure that patients could access high quality services both with hospices in neighbouring areas, and with South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust.
Over the last 19 months, local commissioners have been exploring a range of viable options for effective new palliative care services locally. The commissioners overseeing the development of viable options have undertaken a co-design process and determined that a greater focus on community services will allow for the provision of better support for those who require care locally.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Resolving conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh region
The petition of residents of the constituency of Ealing Central and Acton in London,
Declares that the UK Government should play a greater diplomatic and humanitarian role in resolving the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region; further that the UK Government should impose firmer sanctions on parties that break the terms of ceasefires; and further that ceasefires between the two States must be unconditional and strictly observed by both parties.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to play a greater diplomatic and humanitarian role in resolving the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Dr Rupa Huq, Official Report, 10 November 2020; Vol. 683, c. 866 .]
[P002622]
Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Wendy Morton):
The UK Government welcome the news that the Governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to a cessation of hostilities which will ensure the safety and security of the citizens of both states. The UK Government continue to support the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs of France, the United States and Russia as the primary format through which a peaceful negotiated final settlement should be reached.
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The UK Government continue to encourage both parties to abide by the terms of the peace deal and are not looking at imposing sanctions at this time. Additionally, the UK Government have provided £1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross to support their humanitarian efforts on the ground and are evaluating what further support may be required.