Shropshire Star

Fresh doubt cast on Shropshire A&E plans

Health bosses have cast further doubt on plans that could lead to the closure of one of Shropshire's two A&E units.

Published
Princess Royal Hospital, Telford, left, and Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

Members of Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group's board have said more work is required to address concerns about rural care before plans to close one of the county's A&E departments can move forward.

Professor Rod Thomson, director of public health in the region, told yesterday's meeting of Shropshire CCG: "I accept doing nothing is something we cannot do but we are missing addressing public concerns. We need to make it clear how this will make things better for the public."

It comes after the group's Telford counterpart also delayed backing the proposals on Tuesday, while GPs branded the plans "naive to the point of being dangerous".

More than 30 people attended the meeting of Shropshire CCG in Shrewsbury to question members of the board.

The plans would see one emergency department at either Royal Shrewsbury Hospital or Telford's Princess Royal. Both sites would have an urgent care centre for non-emergency care.

Dr Nigel Hall, a retired GP from Ludlow, said the plans would be "a great step backward", while the finances favoured Telford being chosen as the preferred main hospital site.

David Evans, chief officer of Shropshire CCG, said: "The affordability of the initial plans do appear to favour one site over another.

"But there are many more factors to consider. In fact the financial weighing is far less than the non-financial."

Richard Chanter, co-chairman of Shropshire Patient Group, said there is a danger that the plans were being formulated without consulting the public.

He said: "I think it is a very good proposal but I do have concerns around two areas.

"The plans have moved forward considerably and recently there have been no patient discussions at all.

"I think it is a shame and a big mistake that you have not used a patient voice."

Neil Nisbit, assistant chief executive and finance director of Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust, said: "It is a chicken and egg thing. The strategic outline case would solve A&E but only if supported by primary care. We don't want to see further delay and there is more work to do."

Board members voted to defer a decision until a future date while more work is carried out.

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