Telford & Wrekin Council’s chief has highlighted a string of failings at the Princess Royal Hospital in a scathing letter to health bosses.

Councillor Andrew Eade has demanded immediate action to halt the slide in services and has catalogued examples of issues at the hospital which he claims illustrate how low standards have sunk.

In a letter to Margaret Bamford, Royal Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Hospitals Trust chairman, and Tom Taylor, trust chief executive, he highlighted among other issues:

• Excessive waiting times in accident and emergency.

• A woman who suffered a stroke and spent two hours waiting to see a doctor, initially on a trolley, and later died in the hospital after allegedly receiving sub-standard care.

• Patients spending considerable time on trolleys or in corridors because the assessment unit is full.

• A poor turnaround time for ambulances.

• A very high bed occupancy rate when it is believed the hospital receives enough cash to cater for local needs.

• Pressure on staff due to shortages.

• Delays in people leaving hospital.

Councillor Vic Tonks, who worked with Councillor Eade on the statement issued on behalf of the council, said: “I feel there is a beds crisis at both the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

“I want the MPs and councillors in the areas covered by both hospitals to back calls for an inquiry into the situation. I have known of a man who waited 19 hours in the accident and emergency department before he got onto a ward.”

The Wrekin Association of Parish and Town Councils has also written to the council and MPs calling for action on the hospital.

Katrina Baker, association secretary, said the association had resolved to call for “a thorough review and independent investigation into the resources and management at the hospital and to ensure that the trust board invest necessary funds.”

The resolution added: “The population of Telford & Wrekin deserves a hospital with all specialist services.

“Together, we should demand the trust board and chief executive start to let us know the full details and their true intentions for the people of the borough.”

By Simon Hardy