Health bosses have lifted the “immediate” threat of some hospital services being switched from Telford to Shrewsbury under proposed NHS reforms.

Board members of the primary care trust, NHS Telford and Wrekin, yesterday voted in favour of the development of a countywide network of vascular surgeons, including the appointment of a sixth surgeon, who will work across both the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Telford’s Princess Royal.

This proposal -—which was put forward last week by the trust which runs the two hospitals — replaces an “immediate” plan to consolidate vascular services at Shrewsbury, a move campaigners feared would lead to the loss of other services from PRH and a downgrading of the hospital.

But anger was again voiced yesterday at the way the process for carrying through healthcare reform in Shropshire is being handled.

Although the surgeons network has won support, it still remains the aspiration of the NHS in Shropshire to eventually consolidate vascular services on one site, either at Shrewsbury or Telford providing patients from across Shropshire with a “gold” standard of care and treatment.

The proposal, along with other changes, will be consulted on next summer – after the General Election.

There are now worries that this will prejudge the long term plan of concentrating all acute services at either the Royal Shrewsbury or Princess Royal, or in a new hospital.

Leading Telford GP and board member, Dr Andy Inglis, said he agreed with having such a network but questioned whether it would be truly balanced.

He repeated a warning that he and other Telford GPs had “grave concerns” over future PRH services.