CAMPAIGNERS TODAY vowed to continue fighting plans to switch maternity and children’s services from Shrewsbury to Telford, despite health chiefs unanimously backing the move.

Both Shropshire County Primary Care Trust and NHS Telford and Wrekin support proposals to reshape hospital services.

And health watchdogs have also reaffirmed their backing for the plans.

But more than 33,000 people from across Shropshire and mid Wales signed a cross-border petition calling for women and children’s services to remain at Shrewsbury.

There are fears that the extra travel times to Telford will put mothers and babies in emergency situations at even greater risk.

Ron Jones, a former director at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, who has been helping to lead the campaign, said that there were still many battles to be fought before the changes could be implemented, regardless of the decisions made yesterday.

He said: “The key thing to come will be the business plan that still has to be put forward by the hospitals trust.

“We will continue to make our voices heard at that stage of the process and also at the outline business plan, which is only a few months away.”

Mr Jones said he was disappointed that health chiefs’ minds seemed made up from the first of four meetings yesterday to consider the proposals. “The debate on the proposals was a very minor part of the time provided. There wasn’t really any discussion and the outcome was clear from the first presentation.

“There are still nine paediatricians who feel that moving children’s and maternity services away from Shrewsbury is unsafe for mothers, babies and children.”

Helen Jervis, a Newtown mother who organised the cross-border petition, said she was “deeply worried” by the decisions.

“They have admitted there is a risk factor but they are still willing to give their support,” she said.

“We are going to continue to work together as a Shropshire and Mid Wales action group to see what else we can do to try to stop the plans going ahead.”

Martin Davies-Friend of Shrewsbury, another leading campaigner, said the the petition appeared to have been ignored.

But the decisions taken over the proposals have been welcomed by Andrew Eade, leader of Telford & Wrekin Council.

“I believe this settles a very long running issue,” he said.

“Both the PRH and RSH lose and gain in equal measure.

“While this solution is not perfect it will help secure key hospital services at both sites, for the whole of the area.

“The challenge is now to see how these changes are enacted.”