'Save our PRH' - Telford streets packed with protesters marching against cuts to hospital services
"Save our PRH, save our PRH" – this was the rallying call chanted by almost 1,000 Telford and Wrekin residents as they turned out in force to show support for their local hospital.
Telford & Wrekin Mayor Rae Evans was among residents at the march.
She said she had spoken to a senior ambulance service officer about the potential loss of services at Princess Royal Hospital.
"For me, the thing that has made me committed to this cause is a conversation I had with a senior ambulance service officer.
"I asked his view and it was that he had no doubt people would die if this reorganisation goes ahead.
"This isn't about politics, this is about people's lives.
"It's brilliant to see so many people coming to the march. It shows the strength of feeling."
Paula Pugh, from Donnington, was at the march with her sister Janet Beetlestone, from Hadley.
Mrs Beetlestone said their father, Joe Johnson, was a former chairman of Telford & Wrekin district council, who had fought for the hospital to be built.
The 60-year-old said: "He fought to have the hospital here, so we are here to keep it open. It's a family affair.
"How many lives are going to be lost if it all goes to Shrewsbury?
"We can remember before the PRH was there, we know how important it is. It doesn't make sense to move it.
"If they can't manage with two A&Es how are they going to manage with just one?"
Newport Town Councillor Peter Scott said it was good to see people from different political parties uniting to save services at the PRH.
"It's very important for people to come along and show their feelings, I came to represent Newport," he added.
"It's vital for us all that the services remain, all those in Telford and Wrekin.
"All we can do is try our best protesting. It's good to see people from all political parties here. We will stand up for the Princess Royal Hospital and we will keep doing it until we know for certain that it is safe.
"We will try to keep services in Telford and Shrewsbury. This is about Shropshire's NHS, we want funding for the whole of Shropshire.
"I'm pleased with how many people have turned out for the march."
Kirsty Finchett, from Newport, had brought her children – five-year-old George and three-year-old Emily – to the march yesterday. The 33-year-old said: "We feel quite strongly about saving the women and children's unit.
"In an emergency you'd have to ring 999, not go yourself, it's so far to Shrewsbury from Newport, especially if you haven't got a car. I'm pretty much willing to vote based on who says the hospital will be safe."
Michelle Linder, a hotel manager from Oakengates, was at the march with her four-month-old son Harrison Ball, who she had given birth to at the county's new £28 million women and children's unit.
The 30-year-old said: "It's very important to me that those services stay there. I want to increase my family and I'd like to think it will stay there for when I have another child.
"They looked after us so well as I was in for quite a while before I gave birth and my partner was able to come and go easily, but he would not have been able to with the extra travel to Shrewsbury.
"What's the point of spending all that money just to get rid of it?"
Nita Whitehouse, town councillor for Oakengates, said she remembered a time before the PRH. She said: "For years and years we had to go to Shrewsbury because we didn't have the PRH at all.
"They worked hard to get this for Telford, we're a very busy town with all the houses that are going up, it's needed – desperately needed." Great-grandparents Nick, aged 58, and Kim Wassell, aged 59, from Wellington, were also marching yesterday.
Mrs Wassell, a sales executive, said: "It's a local service that is really valuable. Shropshire is a big area, we can't lose the services.
"If it goes, it's going to mean deaths."
Claire Anslow, from Newport, was at the march with her husband Chris and children, eight-year-old Hannah and seven-year-old Charlie.
Hannah, a student at Newport Junior School, said: "Our grandad was in the Princess Royal Hospital after he had his stroke, but he's better now."
Mrs Anslow, aged 34, added: "We used the PRH for all our antenatal services, it was lovely. We've had friends who have had their children admitted there, I can't imagine how we'd manage if it closed."
