Shropshire hospitals shake-up 'in danger of collapse'

Members of Shropshire Defend Our NHS have published a paper about the programme to reorganise the county's A&E services. Officials have already said there will only be one A&E in the county in the future at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital or the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

But Shropshire Defend Our NHS say closing one A&E would be a "disaster" for people in both areas. They also claim the Future Fit programme is in danger of collapse because of the demands relating to timescale.

Its chairwoman Gill George said: "Whichever A&E closes, it will be a disaster for people in both areas. There have been attempts to present this as 'Shrewsbury versus Telford', but this is simply wrong.

"Recent research shows closing an A&E causes a deadly 'ripple effect', with a five per cent increase in death rates for patients at neighbouring hospitals. These notes have been revised in August, at a time when the Future Fit appears close to collapse.

"The timetable – effectively driven by the organisational needs of the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Hospital Trust – is now rated by the Future Fit programme board as 'high risk' on almost every component. It may not be achievable."

But Future Fit spokesman Richard Caddy said the options would provide the "best outcome". He said: "Research in England by the health foundation and the Nuffield Trust found that there are no hard-and-fast rules to say at what point longer distance becomes a particular problem."

On the issue of timescale, Mr Caddy said: "One important consideration are the Welsh election next year. We cannot consult during the pre-election period. There is also a risk as the programme enters the phase when it needs to seek various approvals.

"The challenges faced by the acute hospital have been fully recognised by the programme from the beginning."