Don't delay A&E decision, say Shropshire MPs

It comes as it was revealed it could be a couple of months before the location of the new single site is unveiled.

Options on the table include siting A&E just at Royal Shrewsbury or just at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital, or on a new build site somewhere between the two.

The creation of a single Emergency Care Centre dealing with life-threatening conditions only is just one part of the Future Fit programme.

There will also be Urgent Care Centres for people who have suffered fractures or other injuries.

Outside of the county's acute hospitals at Shrewsbury and Telford, there is a community hospital in Bishop's Castle and Minor Injury Units (MIUs) at Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Whitchurch and Oswestry.

All of those will be considered as possible sites for the new Urgent Care Centres – but health chiefs say they are happy to listen to other suggestions too.

It is already proposed that there will be an Urgent Care Centre at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Dr Bill Gowans, vice chair for Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: "Making sure that communities in rural areas are catered for is crucially important for NHS Future Fit.

"The workshops will be attended by members of the public and local medical professionals including GPs, and they will build on the work we have already done. We are currently exploring the most appropriate rural urgent care solutions with local communities and considering current facilities and services.

"All existing minor injuries units (MIUs) and Bishop's Castle Community Hospital will be considered as potential sites for urgent care centres."

The workshops are looking specifically at the development of rural urgent care centres – a key component of NHS Future Fit.

The workshops will take place over the next month in Whitchurch, Ludlow, Bridgnorth and Oswestry. It follows a previous round of workshops held in the same locations earlier in the summer.

Bosses of Future Fit, the team behind the reconfiguration of health services in the county, initially wanted a preferred option put forward before the General Election in May. But it was put back – and health chiefs now say it is looking like "late summer or early autumn" before the preferred site is announced.

Telford MP Lucy Allan today said it was important people knew sooner rather than later, but dispute over the final choice of location for the emergency site looks likely.

She said: "It is important that the Future Fit programme takes the time needed to come to the right conclusion.

"However, this issue has been under discussion for a considerable period and people want to know the outcome.

"I have been clear that I would like to see Princess Royal Hospital become a 'super hospital' with a new critical care unit on the site next to the new Women and Children's Centre."

Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski said he was very keen to hear news "as soon as possible".

"My understanding is that there will be an indication in early autumn, September or October time," he said. "I am happy to wait for that but obviously if that timescale is pushed back I want to know why.

"We need to get it right. This is something that will last for generations and the plans put into place will be some of the most important the trust has taken."

Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard added: "Telford is a rapidly growing town. I will fight to keep a fully functioning A&E at the Princess Royal Hospital."