A&E plan 'could put lives in danger'

Ambulance response times in Powys will get worse and lives put in danger if plans to scrap accident and emergency services in Shrewsbury go ahead, it has been claimed by residents.

Campaigners fighting to retain the A&E department at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital claim lives will be put at risk if the service is moved to Telford.

They say it will put increasing pressure on the Welsh Ambulance Service, which is already struggling to meet emergency response time targets in Powys.

Helen Evans, from Welshpool, said the extra half hour journey to Telford, would be devastating to the service.

She said: "Our ambulances already have to travel far enough to Shrewsbury and are taken out of the area for long enough.

"And I believe that the added half-an-hour journey to Telford would put an increasing amount of pressure on the ambulance service, which is already struggling to cope.

"Lives here in Powys could be put at serious risk."

Recommendations for developing healthcare across Shropshire have been proposed. This includes concentrating acute services on one site by 2020 whether it be at Shrewsbury, Telford or in a new hospital.

John Howard, chief officer of the Montgomery Community Health Council, said: "The service is already struggling to meet emergency response targets in Powys and this could only add to its problems."

A spokesman for the Welsh Ambulance Service said today it would be looking into the matter.