Telford & Wrekin councillors from all political parties will tonight be asked to join forces in a campaign opposing any plans to downgrade the Princess Royal Hospital.

A motion to a meeting of the full council calls on all members to back a major campaign to keep all acute services in Telford and stop any being transferred to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

The move follows publication of a report to health chiefs which suggests either moving some acute services and in-patient paediatrics from the PRH to the RSH by 2012/13, or vice versa.

The report by Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust chief executive Tom Taylor collates research by a group of top doctors and nurses who said that shifting services out of Telford to Shrewsbury was the best option on both financial and non-financial grounds.

Council spokeswoman Sylvia Herbert said the plans would see a number of key services move to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, effectively downgrading the PRH.

Telford & Wrekin Council leader Councillor Andrew Eade will move the motion to the meeting which will be seconded by Labour group leader Councillor Keith Austin, with the backing of the Telford & Wrekin People’s Association members and independents on the authority.

The motion says: “Members are requested to indicate their full backing and commitment to actions and a campaign to protect Prin-cess Royal Hospital as the corner-stone of acute health services for this area.”

Councillor Eade said today he was confident all councillors would get behind the gathering momentum to keep the services at PRH.