More than 300 people packed a meeting to voice their anger at moves which could lead to a downgrading of Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital with key services moved to Shrewsbury.

But only a few joined a protest of civic leaders who walked from Telford & Wrekin Council headquarters to the meeting at the town’s Park Inn to show their concern over possible cuts.

Today Russell Griffin, council spokesman, said the deputation was never intended as a march which would have required police escorts.

“It was only ever an option if people wanted to join,” he said.

Council leader, Andrew Eade, said he was “absolutely delighted” at the meeting turnout.

Meanwhile, a 16,303-strong petition against the proposed shake-up of services has been presented to Parliament by Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard. He handed the petition to Commons Speaker John Bercow last night.

Failure

The Park Inn meeting heard a leading member of the NHS Telford & Wrekin primary care trust attack proposals he described as a “toxic sandwich”.

Dr Andy Inglis also warned his trust board colleagues that he believed it would be a gross failure of judgement and an immoral act if they were to endorse recommendations that could see vascular surgery transferred from Telford to Shrewsbury under an “immediate” plan and other services at PRH only secure for up to three years.

No decisions on the recommendations were taken yesterday because of a technical legal problem regarding the way the meeting was publicised. The trust is reconvening on Monday for an extraordinary meeting.

Dr Inglis, who is chairman of the trust’s professional executive, said he had spoken to all 22 local GP practices, of which 21 were opposed to the proposals.

At a meeting yesterday of the Shropshire County Primary Care Trust, it was claimed the changes could improve ambulance turnaround times.

The trust is reconvening on Friday having experienced the same legal problem as NHS Telford & Wrekin.

By Health Correspondent Dave Morris