Councillors warn of 'Russian roulette' choice over Future Fit plans

Four councillors who represent Ludlow and Clee made the comments as the long-awaited Future Fit consultation got underway.

The review is proposing creating one emergency unit at either Royal Shrewsbury Hospital or Princess Royal Hospital Telford.

Despite their concerns over the plans, the Shropshire councillors, Andy Boddington representing Ludlow North, Tracey Huffer for Ludlow East, Vivienne Parry of Ludlow South, and Richard Huffer representing Clee, have urged their residents to back a specific option.

They are calling on people to support option one, which would see Royal Shrewsbury Hospital becoming the county's sole emergency centre, along with taking on women and children's services from Princess Royal Hospital Telford.

• EXPLAINER: How to have your say on Future Fit plans

The second option would see PRH becoming the county's only emergency centre, while also retaining women and children's services, which are already based at the hospital.

Under both plans both hospitals would have an urgent care centre, which would deal with walking wounded.

Councillor Huffer, speaking on behalf of the four South Shropshire councillors said: “There is no doubt that option one is the best for Ludlow and the surrounding villages.

"We live a long way from any accident and emergency department in Shropshire.

"It’s 31 miles to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and ten miles further to the Princes Royal Hospital in Telford.

"If the A&E is in Telford, it will take 13 minutes longer for an ambulance to arrive at the casualty department compared to having the A&E in Shrewsbury.

“That’s why we are urging residents in Ludlow and the villages around to support option one.

“But we are not happy with this choice. Asking people to decide between an A&E in Shrewsbury and an A&E in Telford is asking them to play Russian roulette with people’s lives.

“We need two A&Es but that will mean more money than is currently available. There is much speculation that the government will promise more cash for the NHS in July.

"But that is likely to be absorbed by the growing costs of ageing, obesity, diabetes, cancer, genetic medicine and new technology. It’s unlikely there will be any money left over for keeping two A&Es in Shropshire.

“Faced with a tough and unwelcome choice, we are advising people in our wards to back option one.”

Mid Wales health campaigner and councillor Joy Jones has also urged the public to back option one, warning it will be people's "only chance".

Councillor Jones said: "The most important consultation that we have seen in Mid Wales has started.

"It affects our future and that of the future of our families and future generations.

"This is not being overly dramatic because it is our health care, and not just any healthcare but lifesaving emergency care.

"Please don’t allow the powers that be to make the decisions for you as to where you should receive your immediate care in an emergency situation.

"This is the final consultation to decide where our emergency A&E unit is to be situated.

"Once this decision is made we won’t be able to turn back the clock.

"I hope you will all come out and support the work myself and others have done and the time that people from Newtown Health Forum have given to stand up and fight to keep our A&E close to the border in Shrewsbury and get our women’s and children’s unit back to Shrewsbury as it should have never been moved in the first place.

"Please listen to the plea as it is important, and remember that is will be our only chance as once the decision is made there will be no changing it and if we lose it to Telford there will be no bringing it back."