Campaigners in Telford 'won't budge' on A&E bid
A campaign to keep the county's main accident and emergency department in Telford is being stepped up.
Telford & Wrekin Council hopes to retain the service at the Princess Royal Hospital, rather than the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, and says it will not budge over its stance.
A review known as NHS Future Fit is currently looking at emergency, planned and urgent care for patients from Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and Mid Wales.
The plans include providing one emergency centre in either Shrewsbury or Telford. At least two urgent care centres will also be based in Telford and Shrewsbury, while Oswestry, Bishop's Castle, Whitchurch, Bridgnorth and Ludlow could also be selected as a location.
The council backed a motion 18 months ago to retain a 24-hour A&E service at the PRH in Telford.
Councillor Richard Overton, deputy leader and cabinet member for housing, public health and protection, has released a new video highlighting why Telford should be chosen over Shrewsbury.
He says: "This statement from the NHS Future Fit programme does not offer anything new for the future of our local hospital and its A&E services.
"We are committed to continuing to put pressure on the new government to ensure that 24/7 accident and emergency services are retained at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.
"We are calling on the health secretary to ensure that a final decision confirming this is reached as soon as possible.
"So far, the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, and the local Clinical Commissioning Group have refused to give any reassurances that these services will be protected.
"We have made clear that keeping 24-hour A&E services at the PRH is our line in the sand that we feel is not negotiable."
Councillor Overton says Telford is the population centre in the region and one that is experiencing strong growth and will grow in the next 20 years.
"It has the best transport links, a growing economy and higher levels of deprivation than many of our neighbours," he says. "We have very clear and incontestable health needs in this borough. Health in Telford and Wrekin is significantly worse than the national average.
"I call on all the decision makers involved in this process to listen to common sense.
"The Princess Royal Hospital must retain full 24/7 A&E services otherwise it will cease to be a general hospital," he adds.
