Shrewsbury MP demands Commons debate on Telford council's A&E campaign
An MP has called for a debate in the House of Commons after Telford & Wrekin Council pledged tens of thousands of pounds to a campaign to keep an accident and emergency department in the borough.
Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski today said he would "probe" the authority's plans to use the money in a bid to keep the service at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital – but warned the council could be "setting itself up for a fall".
Telford & Wrekin Council is to launch a '24/7 A&E' campaign, using money from £100,000 it has put aside.
The authority says it has a responsibility to lobby on behalf of the town and that the money has come because of an underspend in its budget.
But Mr Kawczynski said he was concerned that taxpayers' money would be spent on what he says should be a "clinically-led" and "independent project".
The NHS Future Fit programme, conducted jointly by Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Telford and Wrekin CCG, suggests there should only be one emergency department in the county. This decision would see the A&E unit at either the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital or the Princess Royal Hospital closing.
Mr Kawczynski said: "This is very much an independent and clinically led investigation into the optimum provision for A&E services across the whole of Shropshire and Mid Wales going forward. We are in Shrewsbury all respecting the fact it is clinically led and independent, and doctors and clinicians will make the decision in the interest of all people in Shropshire and Mid Wales.
"I am extremely concerned that Telford council intends to use the taxpayers' money to skew the results of this project and I want to check and probe into whether they are complying with rules and regulations on how they can spend taxpayers' money. Councils are all struggling to provide services like libraries because of cuts from Government. To spend this money in this way, I find it breathtaking.
"We want everyone to be able to have confidence that it is a fair and proper decision without influence from politicians using taxpayers' money."
Karen Calder, Shropshire Council cabinet member for health and chairman of Shropshire's Health and Wellbeing Board, recently said she had "grave concerns" about T&W Council's plans.
Mr Kawczynski added that should the decision go in Telford's favour he would argue for a judicial review.
He said: "They are setting themselves up for a fall and haven't got appropriate legal advice."
