'Such a bad move': Fears over night closure of Telford A&E
News that the A&E department at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford is to close overnight from October has been met with shock by Shropshire residents.
Many took to social media to express disgust and incredulity that Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust’s board voted unanimously in favour of the night-time closure of A&E at Princess Royal Hospital during their meeting on Thursday.
The overnight closure, due to be brought in during November, will mean the emergency department will close between 8pm and 8am.
The trust is blaming staff shortages, with major gaps in consultants and middle-grade doctors.
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Speaking out on the Shropshire Star's website and Facebook page many said the decision was disgraceful.
Sarah Burbridge from Telford spoke of fears for her own health.
"Without PRH A&E on my doorstep, I would have died eight years ago. If I'm taken ill again late at night like I was then, looks like I won't be surviving the journey to another hospital. Paramedics had to work on me in the ambulance and that was only a two minute drive up the road."
Many said the move would put a burden on the ambulance service as people unable to get themselves to A&E in Shrewsbury would simply ring 999.
And some pointed out that Telford was a growing town.
Cheryl Coleing-Wale said the decision was unbelievable.
"We are building more houses than anywhere in the UK yet taking away overnight security of an A&E department putting peoples lives at risk".
Worries also came from outside Telford.
Catherine Anne Howarth said: "This is such a bad move especially for people who live in Bridgnorth area it will take twice as long to get to Shrewsbury and the road isn’t a nice drive either."
Some feared the decision would cost lives but Laura Barton, who works at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital defended the decision. She said: "How can people just say the 'distance' will cost lives. It will be lack of staff that will cost lives. The A&E consultants in PRH will be moved to Shrewsbury to enable patients to be seen quicker and in a less pressured environment which will allow for better care and less mistakes to be made.
"Shropshire and Telford Hospitals trust has to be accessible to all the county's patients not just Telford. Nobody wants to work in A&E in any of these sites at the moment because each site is understaffed and unsafe. Closing one of the A&E sites has to happen to provide the most efficient and quality care."
Nicky Purcell said: "I am not surprised about staff shortages - who would want to come and work here with all the negative publicity our hospitals have been having over the past year or two. We have had nothing but wonderful, caring treatment at the RSH. Its awful what is happening but if there aren't the staff to treat people what exactly does everyone expect to happen."
