Protest march to be held over Telford hospital A&E closure threat

Gill George, of Shropshire Defend Our NHS, is heading the demonstration in Wellington on Saturday from 11am.

The march will start in The Square in Wellington and proceed to Princess Royal Hospital.

Ms George said: "The areas we are focusing on are a demand for both A&Es to stay, both hospitals must stay and no to NHS cuts. This is an open invitation to anybody at all."

It was revealed yesterday that the PRH could lose both its A&E department and Women and Children's Centre, after falling behind the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in a "non-financial appraisal".

Telford & Wrekin Councillors have also taken to social media to encourage as many people as possible to join a march to fight to keep A&E services and the Women and Children's Centre in Telford.

In December 2015, Telford & Wrekin Council launched its PRH 4 Me campaign, designed to allow people to show their support for the Telford hospital. The logo of the campaign is yellow, and councillors have urged those marching to wear yellow to show solidarity.

Meanwhile, Shrewsbury Town Council is also planning to hold a rally on hospital services in the town, likely to take place in October once speakers are arranged.

Councillor Alan Mosley, leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, said: "Obviously the latest news is very promising in terms of our desire to maintain A&E services at Shrewsbury. Although we will have to maintain pressure to ensure that comes to fruition.

"However, there seem to be a wide range of other changes proposed that we would need to review carefully in terms of their implications for Shrewsbury residents.

"Our initial reaction is of relief but we must maintain pressure to ensure it becomes reality, particularly given the level of confusion surrounding the whole Future Fit process.

"All the controversy underlines the fact that government policy is leading to grossly underfunded NHS services for Shropshire that leaves them under threat. We are going to go ahead with making sure that all Shrewsbury residents have the opportunity of discussing the proposals as soon as they are made clear."

Future Fit boss, and chief officer of both Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin clinical commissioning groups, David Evans, said the group has been told by an independent body that emergency and maternity services should be together.

But Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard has said it is "utter madness" that the £28 million Women and Children facility that opened at the Princess Royal Hospital two years ago would be moved away from Telford.