Desperation over fight on Shropshire A&E plans
Campaigners fighting to keep accident and emergency services in Shrewsbury say they are reaching "desperation" over fears they could be moved to Telford.
Patients from Mid Wales say the move of A&E services a further 15 miles away would result in the loss of lives.
They say travelling to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital from towns such as Welshpool and Newtown is enough of a stretch and said a further 20 minutes would leave patients critically ill or worse.
Councillor Estelle Bleivas, Welshpool town councillor, said she was fighting against the potential move.
She said: "This is getting to desperation now and we are going to fight tooth and nail against it.
"How do they think people from Mid Wales will cope with travelling even further I'm emergencies.
"We are already travelling for more than half an hour from Welshpool and almost an hour from Newtown to get to the RSH.
"If it goes to the PRH in Telford we will have something drastic happen I fear.
"Medics always speak about how vital the golden hour is - well this would push it over that time."
Councillor Bleivas was speaking at a meeting of Welshpool Town Council following the launch of the Mid Wales Health Study.
The study was compiled by Welshpool Town Council and the North Montgomeryshire Local Council Forum.
The report 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 information is based on information gained from surveys handed out in Mid Wales between July 1 and 15."
Councillor Bleivas added: "Myself and Councillors Amy Bowen and Hazel Evans sat at the drop in events compiling case studies for this report and the message was clear, people are desperate for A&E to remain in Shrewsbury.
"Anything else would be a disaster."
Robert Robinson, town clerk, said: "We had 419 people come to us with case studies we could look at for the report and the feedback was that people are happy with A&E as it is."
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.
