Health chiefs were today forced to postpone taking a decision on moves that could lead to a massive shake-up of services in Shropshire and the downgrading of Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital.

Meetings were going ahead this afternoon of NHS Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire County Primary Care Trust. But officials say a “technical legal problem” means a formal decision will have to be made at a later date.

The problem was over publicising what were supposed to be extraordinary board meetings.

Telford MP David Wright voiced his anger at what he described as a “shambolic situation”.

The two trust boards will still discuss and listen to public comments on proposals which could see the removal of vascular services from the Princess Royal to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital under an “immediate” plan with other major services at Telford only secure for up to three years.

NHS leaders claim that changes are necessary to ensure patient services in Shropshire are safe and can be maintained. The ultimate goal is to concentrate all acute services on one site by 2020, possibly in a brand new hospital.

NHS Telford & Wrekin is meeting at 4pm at the Park Inn, Forgegate, and hundreds of people are expected to attend. A huge public protest is expected in Telford.

Chief Executive Simon Conolly said: “Unfortunately one official notice of the meeting was not posted correctly, and although the meeting had been well publicised by other means, including in local newspapers, on the radio and on a variety of websites, we do need to make sure we meet the legal requirements to have a properly constituted meeting.”

A date for another meeting is to be arranged. The County PCT plans to hold another meeting on Friday at 9am at the Prostar Stadium, Shrewsbury.

Mr Wright said: “If health chiefs can’t organise a meeting properly how can they organise our health services. I hope residents will still voice their opinions.”

Meanwhile, Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard is due to present his petition against cuts to local health services to Parliament later today.

He will also meet next month with Health Secretary Andy Burnham MP.

By Dave Morris