The change, put forward in a cost-cutting Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust plan, would mean children from Telford having to travel at night to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

But parents and doctors say it would put youngsters’ lives at risk and is not a sensible way to organise the county’s hospital care.

Dr Andrew Inglis, a GP at Sutton Hill Medical Practice, said he and many other doctors would be fighting the proposals at the consultation meeting.

“I think it will be a very good turnout from all sorts of people including many doctors,” he said. “This is the chance for people to ensure that their children’s services are adequate.

“What is being proposed is unacceptable. If they are allowed to go ahead with this it will go from downgrading to making them completely unsustainable.”

Dr Inglis, along with five colleagues, has also written to the Shropshire Star opposing the plan.

“We are concerned at these proposals as it does not seem in the interests of the ill child for several reasons,” they wrote.

“The transfer time of children will be extended and so will the time for treatment.

“Parents’ access will be reduced either through the time and cost of travel or through the lack of purpose-built accommodation for parents overnight at the RSH.”

Mother Jane Dudley has taken her eight-year-old, Molly, who suffers from cerebral palsy, to the Telford children’s unit on many occasions – including for life-saving treatment during the night.

Mrs Dudley, who is also a patients’ representative on the ward, said: “There are a lot of people ready to fight this. I know a lot of nurses on the ward are coming.”

Mrs Dudley has said the plans would put severely ill children in danger.

She added: “Every minute is vital in some situations and I know the nurses, who are wonderful, can only do so much when someone is as bad as my Molly is.”

The consultation meeting is at The Place in Oakengates on October 3, at 7pm.

By Dave West

Have your say – email starmail@shropshirestar.co.uk, including your name and address

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