A petition against plans to downgrade services at Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital has swelled to 12,000 names, it has been revealed.

Conservative MP for The Wrekin Mark Pritchard has amassed the signatures since he started collecting them just a few weeks ago. Mr Pritchard also met with Strategic Health Authority boss Ian Cumming this week to demand funding for continued services at Telford.

The MP met Mr Cumming on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the future funding of the town’s Princess Royal Hospital.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Pritchard said: “I made it clear in no uncertain terms that funding must be found to ensure that accident and emergency and paediatric services remain in Telford.

“I believe my message was well understood and I hope that all the Shropshire health trusts and the regional bodies will now shelve these flawed plans that are causing so much anxiety to my constituents.”

Meanwhile the fight to get as many supporters behind the cause continues – and the MP said the amount of names behind his Save The PRH campaign had gone past the 12,000 mark this week.

His latest stop-off was at Edgmond post office, where sub-postmistress Pam Sahota and customers were happy to sign their names to the cause.

Mr Pritchard said he was delighted with the progress of the parliamentary petition and added: “I am glad of the support of the whole community.

“Everyone will be affected if these changes go ahead – so I am glad everyone is coming together behind my save the PRH campaign.”

The board of Telford & Wrekin Primary Care Trust is to meet on Tuesday to decide when a public consultation into the controversial plans will start.

By Wayne Beese