Shropshire Star comment: New delay likely with Future Fit
One of the saddest aspects of Shropshire’s Future Fit strategy has been that the way it has been framed has left it incapable of carrying all Salopians along with it.
Instead of it being a roadmap for the future shape of healthcare which was embraced and enjoyed countywide support, the central headline proposal governing the location of accident and emergency care proved impossibly divisive.
It was inevitable that when the go-ahead was given at the end of January for the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital to be Shropshire’s sole A&E centre, there would not be universal relief that things were at last moving forward.
Telford campaigners, who fought long and hard in support of the retention of A&E services at the Princess Royal Hospital, were dismayed.
If health bosses thought that making the PRH the centre for planned surgery would dilute the anger and upset in the eastern part of the county, they will have been disappointed.
From Telford’s point of view, the town had “lost”.
Whatever side of the Future Fit arguments Salopians have been on, the supposedly final decision at least seemingly moved a long drawn out process towards the endgame.
Given the strongly held views, it has been no surprise that the fight goes on and the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock is on the case.
Last week, at the invitation of Telford MP Lucy Allan, Mr Hancock saw the PRH for himself, in a visit and a tour.
With the MPs batting for Telford’s cause, Mr Hancock has said he will consider launching an independent review into Future Fit – if he receives a formal request from Telford & Wrekin Council.
Let’s take it as read then that that is now what will happen. And as these things take time, there is going to be a further delay.
You can sympathise with Simon Wright, chief executive of Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust, who is calling for any review to be speedily completed. When you just want to get on with things, it must be very frustrating to have to wait longer.
The cliche would be to say things cannot go on like this.
There has to come a time when Shropshire moves on.
