Health Secretary backs plans to move Shropshire NHS services
Thursday 22nd December 2011, 11:00AM GMT.
Campaigners fighting plans to move services out of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital were dealt a blow today as Health Secretary Andrew Lansley warned alternative proposals would double costs.
Mr Lansley said the £35 million shake-up of services would be cheaper than creating a new facility at the RSH, which he claimed could cost about £60 million.
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust want to downgrade women and children’s services at Shrewsbury.
The proposals would also see the RSH become the main surgical centre, and Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital take on consultant maternity, neo-natal and in-patient paediatric units.
In a letter to Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski, Mr Lansley said: “The proposed costs for the development at the Princess Royal Hospital were estimated at £28 million during the consultation period and this has not changed.
“The Trust stated investment would also be needed at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, estimated at around £7 million, meaning that the total cost of the outline business case scheme is around £35 million. The costs of developing a replacement facility at the Royal Shrewsbury remain in the region of £60 million.”
Mr Kawczynski said he would be continuing to oppose changes by the NHS trust.
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