Shropshire Star

Andy Burnham's comments over Shropshire A&E plans are welcomed

Health campaigners have welcomed comments from former Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham after he claimed concentrating A&E services in Shropshire on one site could be "dangerous".

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Mr Burnham last week said he had looked at similar proposals for the county during his time in Government and said he thought the geography of the area meant that a single A&E unit for the county would be unsuitable.

He said it would be difficult to say whether a single acute service would provide adequate care.

A two-year operating plan published by the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust says a Specialist Emergency Care Hospital could be built on the site of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital or Telford's Princess Royal Hospital, or in a new location somewhere between the two.

See also:

  • Burnham’s fears over Shropshire A&E move

  • Options outlined for future of A&E in Shropshire

  • Call for Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to step in over Shropshire A&E row

Leaders of the Future Fit programme – tasked with looking at how health services in the county can best be provided in the years ahead – have said nothing will be decided until after an extensive consultation programme.

But Gill George, speaking for Shropshire Defend Our NHS, said: "It's absolutely brilliant to have Andy Burnham's support for what we're saying. We need to hear now from our local MPs and councillors. It's time to come off the fence." She added: "Andy Burnham's right to pick up on the long journeys people face. This is a huge geographical area, with a population of more than 500,000 across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Powys.

"We need both our A&Es – and we need more investment in our ambulance services."

Campaign supporter Marilyn Gaunt said: "Let's look at what happened in 2009 and what's happening now.

"The plans then were to close down one of the A&Es and move all services to one hospital. The plans now?

"They want to close down one of the A&Es and move all the services to one hospital! It was wrong in 2009, and it's wrong now."

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