Former Labour candidate believes it is too late for new Shropshire hospital plan
A doctor who lost her position as a candidate for the General Election over her support for a single hospital for Telford and Shrewsbury says she believes it is now too late for the plan to go ahead.
Dr Laura Davies, who was replaced as the Shrewsbury & Atcham candidate for the Labour Party only weeks before December's election, said that the pressing need for change at the hospitals means the Future Fit plan is likely to go ahead.
She also said there is no appetite from staff at Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust for any further delays to the current plans.
In June 2018 Dr Davies suggested that one new hospital should be considered instead of the Future Fit plan.
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However, the suggestion put her at odds with Labour Party policy – to retain A&Es at both Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH).
The issue led to a complaint against her and a vote where her own Constituency Labour Party called on her to be replaced. Eventually the Labour Party stepped in and de-selected her just 37 days ahead of December's election.
Since the election the issue has developed with the county's most senior Labour figure, Shaun Davies, now offering his support for a 'super hospital' between the towns.
Shame
Telford's Conservative MP Lucy Allan, and Shropshire Council's Conservative leader Peter Nutting have also said the option should be considered amid reports of the rising costs of the Future Fit plan – from £312m to £500m.
Dr Davies, who has previously worked at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital's A&E department as part of her training, said: "I think it is too late now because the change has to happen soon.
"I think it is a shame this could not have been our position, and by our position I mean the Labour Party's, two years ago.
"This position could have been thrashed out two years ago in which case we could have made a very persuasive case for a new hospital."
Dr Davies, who previously worked in A&E at RSH as part of her training, said she would still like to see the plan go ahead.
She said: "I hope it is not too late and I hope that what does emerge is some kind of single-site 'super hospital' where we can bring services back that have been lost.
"The concern is that any further delay is a problem and there is no clinical appetite for any further delay."
