County MPs say Sir Keir's pledge to review hospital plans would delay work and put patients at risk
An MP says Sir Keir Starmer's pledge for a review of the county's 'Future Fit' hospitals reorganisation would put more lives at risk.
Speaking to the Shropshire Star, the Leader of the Opposition said that if the Labour Party wins the next general election it will order a fresh look at the plans for Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford and Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) – to see if they offer value for money for the taxpayer.
The controversial proposals for Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) are at their furthest stage yet, with a planning application for work at RSH as part of the £312m scheme currently going through the formal approval process.
Under the proposals RSH will become home to the county's only full A&E – with PRH in Telford seeing its current 24-hour A&E downgraded to an 'A&E Local'.
Both sites would have minor injuries units.
Consultant-led women and children's services would also move from PRH to RSH, with Telford in turn becoming the centre of planned treatment.
Reacting to Sir Keir's comments, Shrewsbury & Atcham's Conservative MP, Daniel Kawczynski, and North Shropshire's Liberal Democrat MP, Helen Morgan, both warned further delays would exacerbate the current problems.
The county has seen some of the worst performance in the country against government A&E targets in recent months.
Mr Kawczynski also suggested the efforts of Telford & Wrekin Council Labour Leader, Councillor Shaun Davies, were putting patients's lives at risk.
