Removing A&E from Shrewsbury could cost lives, says study
Removing accident and emergency services from Shrewsbury will put lives at risk, a health study has warned.
The Mid Wales Health Study, compiled by Welshpool Town Council and the North Montgomeryshire Local Council Forum, said the A&E must remain at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital until there is proper provision put in place for patients over the border.
The report warns that if the A&E department is moved to Telford it could result in the loss of the lives.
It says: "It is recommended that the A&E and support services are retained at Shrewsbury until at least there is proper Mid Wales provision to serve the area of the study. There is a strong feeling that removing A&E along with other services from Shrewsbury would put lives at risk and further disadvantage the population of Mid Wales."
The report, which will be discussed by Welshpool Town Council at a meeting next week, also recommends that the Welsh Assembly sends funding directly to the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust.
The information is based on information gained from surveys handed out in Mid Wales between July 1 and 15.
It adds: "The remit for the study and survey was to diagnose the issues and identify potential solutions for providing accessible, high quality, safe, and sustainable healthcare services, which are best suited to meet the specific needs of those living in Mid Wales."
Another recommendation from the report is that a hospital transport scheme needs to be set up.
It says: "A hospital transport scheme needs to be introduced, perhaps a mini bus service from set centres to Shrewsbury and Telford to support the lack of public transport to points of care at both the above hospitals.
"There are many elderly in Mid Wales who do not have their own personal transport and need to rely on public transport for their hospital treatments, particularly in out-patients."
Meanwhile, the report added: "There were a significant number of people who commented on the extensive number of surveys being carried out and felt they were now 'surveyed out' with little sign of results from such surveys."
The report comes as the Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Groups work on the Future Fit programme.
The Future Fit programme is examining how health services in the county can best be provided in the future, including hospital services, the role of GP practices and community care.
