Telford councillors clash over future of Shropshire hospitals
Telford's Conservative group says it has welcomed a U-turn by the borough council leader over his position over the county's hospitals.
Councillor Davies has long campaigned to keep adequate hospital provision at both the Princess Royal Hospital and Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
But Conservative leader Andrew Eade said his letter showed a "change of heart" that the reconfiguration of hospital services will contain just one consultant-led critical care centre at either the PRH or RSH.
Councillor Davies has accused Councillor Eade of playing "political games" with issues.
Councillor Eade said “The Conservative Group has long accepted that consultants will not work at two small urgent care centres located at the Shrewsbury and Telford hospitals. All recent attempts to attract consultants have ended in failure. This fact was made very clear to me by clinicians when we fought and won the battle to save services at the PRH when I was leader of the council.
“We should expect the very best medical care in the county and this means that in addition to a 24 hour A&E service at both hospitals, a state of the art urgent care facility at one site is desperately needed to benefit us all.”
“I welcome this U-turn by Councillor Davies who has been fighting the wrong battle on the wrong issues in the wrong way, which combined with the council’s earlier ‘under the radar campaign’ of waiting and saying nothing, has only helped to cause the current debacle.”
“As for where the critical care centre should be placed; it is quite clear as consultant cover must accompany the Women and Children’s Unit, which was built at the PRH three years ago at a cost of £28m in response to a clear clinical need.
"To rip the Women and Children’s unit out now and move it to Shrewsbury would be sheer vandalism and economic madness as if it was needed over three years ago, the case for it now is many times stronger.
Councillor Davies said: "I'm disappointed that yet again the Conservatives are seeking to play political games with this issue.
"The council has long held a consistent view and tens of thousands of residents have backed my calls through the PRH for me petition.
"Rather than play games maybe Councillor Eade can join with me in asking our MPs to make clear to the health secretary that if he doesn't honour his pledge then they will vote against Government measures.
"Residents want us to work together not use the hospital as a football."
