Shropshire hospital boss Tom Taylor today insisted accident and emergency services at the county’s two hospitals would be strengthened.

But a five-year plan set out by the NHS Telford and Wrekin Trust and Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust said they aimed to develop a single acute hospital for the county in the longer term.

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It comes as Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard, who is planning to lead a protest march, vowed to fight any moves to downgrade the Princess Royal, saying any removal of 24-hour emergency services will put lives at risk.

And the proposals have also sparked concerns from doctors worried that services would be diluted.

Andrew Eade, Telford & Wrekin Council leader, yesterday claimed services were going to be moved to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, leaving the PRH to be downgraded without public consultation.

He sent a strongly-worded letter to Mr Taylor, chief executive of the Princess Royal and Royal Shrewsbury NHS Hospitals Trust, and Simon Connolly, chief executive of the Telford & Wrekin Primary Care Trust, criticising such a proposal.

But Mr Taylor denied any decisions had been taken and said today on BBC Radio Shropshire that they had agreed to appoint four more accident and emergency consultants.

“We are going to strengthen A&E services in the long term. But this comes down to have we got enough doctors, and in some cases enough nurses to run all services safely on both sites.

“We have concerns particularly with the European Working Time Directive.”

He said papers detailing recommendations for the hospital would be presented to the county’s two PCT trusts next week.

Dr Tim Goode, senior partner at Donnington Medical Practice, said those set to benefit were the better off.

He said: “Telford is a much larger area than Shrewsbury and people in Telford have a lot less access to private cars and transport.

“On a needs basis, it would seem more sensible to have these services at Telford rather than move it to Shrewsbury, which has a much wealthier population with access to transport. It’s a dangerous step for the children of Telford.”

Dr Barkat Chowdhury, of Leegomery Medical Practice, said he was so frustrated with the PCT’s ideas of downgrading that he had been rude to them.

He said: “Every time I was involved with the PCT about downgrading it was the same. At one stage I made a rude comment to them asking them if they could borrow the money from al-Qaida to sort out the problem.

“I would be dead against any services going from Telford, I’m very concerned and so are my colleagues. My patients will suffer.”

Mr Eade had said in his letter: “I have been made aware of arrangements that are being made for the transfer of acute surgery, trauma services and associated specialties from Princess Royal Hospital to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

“This is a matter of major concern for the council and residents in Telford and Wrekin.”

By Lisa Rowley