SHREWSBURY’S MP today called for a full Government inquiry into plans by county health chiefs to move children’s services to Telford – after receiving hundreds of letters and e-mails from angry parents.

Daniel Kawczynski held crunch talks with the Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley in London last night.

He claims the situation is “totally unacceptable”.

And the Tory MP said his constituents had been handed a lifeline after Mr Lansley said Shropshire Council had the power to formally instruct the Government to hold a full inquiry if the concerns of residents are so great.

Mr Kawczynski said he was incensed by the idea that Shrewsbury could lose such vital services and claimed Telford was “secondary” compared to the county town.

The MP said he had received correspondence from many people who were furious at plans by the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust to concentrate women and children’s services in Telford.

Mr Kawczynski said residents were angry that they would be losing the children’s cancer unit, which has been paid for by public donations over many years.

He said they were reeling from the news that they could lose the full range of paediatric services in the county town.

Mr Kawczynski today said: “I have had discussions with the Secretary of State about the growing concerns from constituents.

“I have been told by him that if the changes are of a profound concern to local people then they can ask for the local council, through its Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to instruct him to hold a full government inquiry into it.

“I am going to urge the council to formally refer this to the Secretary of State because I am not convinced by the Trust’s plans and I think it’s wrong for Shrewsbury to lose paediatrics to Telford.”

Mr Kawczynski added: “We are the most important community in Shropshire because we are the county town and not to have paediatric services there is totally unacceptable.”

Adam Cairns, chief executive of the NHS Trust, has said he understands public opposition but has warned that if changes are not made to service delivery, more could be under threat.

By Russell Roberts