Shrewsbury maternity unit ceiling 'near collapse'

Shrewsbury's maternity unit is a "time bomb" waiting to go off, Shropshire's top NHS boss has claimed.

Adam Cairns, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust chief executive, says the unit is in such poor condition the ceiling could come in at any moment. He made the claim at a packed public meeting held in Telford last night.

The meeting was called as part of the consultation into plans to shake up Shropshire's health service.

Speaking to nearly 300 people at the Holiday Inn Mr Cairns said if women's and children's services were not moved to the Princess Royal Hospital, the roof of the maternity unit at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital could collapse.

He said: "There are a number of issues to deal with in these proposals. One of these is the maternity unit at RSH which is in a very poor condition.

"A survey done on the building shows it is not conforming to water and hygiene regulations. And it's structure is in such a poor state the ceiling could fall in at any moment. It could happen today or next year, we don't know."

Mr Cairns added the trust could not afford to rebuild the units at the RSH and space could be utilised in Telford.

He said: "One message we have been struggling to get across is why a new children's unit at the PRH would be cheaper than if we rebuilt at Shrewsbury."

He added: "To turn this space into a new children's unit would cost £28 million. But at Shrewsbury the children's unit is a standalone building.

"We would have to knock the whole thing down and start from the foundations up. It would cost £62 million which we cannot afford."

Under trust plans, children's and maternity services and head and neck services would move to the PRH with acute inpatient surgery consolidated at the RSH.

Cathy Salter, of Little Dawley, Telford, told the meeting she had given birth in both hospitals.

The 39-year-old mum-of-three said: "I had one of my children in Shrewsbury and the other in Telford.

"As a mother I don't mind where I go, it only matters what treatment I receive."

David Wright, MP for Telford, said the plans would see a balance struck.

By Peter Finch