THE MARLOW Evening Towns-womens' Guild will have to wait for its petition for single sex wards and bays in hospitals to be read out in Parliament.

Members say single sex wards would give patients more dignity while receiving care.

But on Monday, July 18, the chance to have its petition of about 60 signatures read out by Paul Goodman MP was missed because of the death of Sir Edward Heath.

Mr Goodman was scheduled to read out the petition but because of Mr Heath's death, Parliament was suspended to hear tributes.

It means the petition will have to be brought up again when The House of Commons reopens in the autumn.

Janet Martin, of Newfield Gardens, Marlow, who is head of social studies for the guild, said she was not disappointed by the news.

She said: "I thought it was just good to get that far really. I received a letter from the House saying why it happened."

Mr Goodman said that losing the slot was just "bad luck".

The guild is meeting this week with NHS bosses to discuss single sex wards. They say with the exception of intensive care units, or those who are terminally ill, the practice should be adopted nationwide.