Petitions

Rachael Maskell Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Caroline Voaden (South Devon) (LD)]

I rise on behalf of residents of Totnes to present a petition concerning the closure of Leatside pharmacy, formerly based at Leatside GP surgery, and I declare that I am a patient. Since the closure, many residents have faced longer waiting times and struggled to obtain prescriptions and advice, and the surgery has been sorely impacted by the loss. A separate petition on change.org has gathered over 3,000 signatures, representing the strength of local feeling. Both constituents and doctors have contacted me to express the urgent need for a pharmacy at the surgery to support its work and local health needs.

The petition states:

“The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to work with NHS England to prioritise the reopening of a pharmacy at Leatside GP Surgery to ensure timely, accessible, and reliable pharmaceutical care for the residents of Totnes.”

Following is the full text of the petition:

[The petition of residents of Totnes,

Declares that the closure of the Leatside Pharmacy, located at the Leatside GP Surgery in Totnes, has significantly impacted local access to essential NHS pharmacy services; further declares that many residents—especially older people and those with mobility challenges—now face increased travel distances and longer waiting times to access prescriptions and pharmacy advice; notes that ongoing issues with alternative local pharmacies have highlighted the urgent need to reopen the pharmacy at Leatside GP Surgery; and notes separate online and paper petitions on the same issue have generated over 3000 signatures demonstrating local support for this campaign.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to work with NHS England to prioritise the reopening of a pharmacy at Leatside GP Surgery to ensure timely, accessible, and reliable pharmaceutical care for the residents of Totnes.

And the petitioners remain, etc.]

[P003103]

[Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Ind)]

I rise to present a petition concerning the UK Government’s relations with Israel. It is joined by 354 signatures from a parallel petition collected by campaigners for Palestine in York, who have had a presence in our city for the last 30 years, but never at a time when the scale of violations and barbaric acts against civilians, including children, has been so catastrophic. The petition recognises the genocide against the Palestinians, which must end immediately.

The petition states:

“The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to immediately cut off all military and economic relations with Israel.

And the petitioners remain, etc.”

Following is the full text of the petition:

[The petition of residents of the United Kingdom,

Declares that there is a genocide taking place in Palestine.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to immediately cut off all military and economic relations with Israel.

And the petitioners remain, etc.]

[P003105]