Shropshire Star

Shropshire A&E recommendation expected to be made today

After more than three years of speculation a recommendation on the county's A&E units was finally being delivered today.

Published
Artist's impressions of the proposed A&E department if at the Princess Royal Hospital, Telford, top, and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, bottom.

The Future Fit Programme Board was meeting today, where it was expected to agree a recommended option for the futures of Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital Telford.

The recommendation was likely to suggest that one hospital retains its A&E unit, while the other becomes a centre for planned care.

Leaked papers earlier this month indicated that RSH is favourite to retain its A&E, with women and children's services also moving to the site – a move that has sparked outrage and threats of legal action from Telford's politicians.

Last night health chiefs were given a final warning by Telford & Wrekin Council to put on hold a decision which could see the A&E unit shut at Telford – or face a lengthy and bitter battle through the courts.

There are four options the board will consider and it is possible that more than one will go forward with a recommendation – which is then subject to approval from both Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG), and peer review from the West Midlands Clinical Senate.

Once through that process a public consultation on the option is likely to begin in December

The programme board had initially been scheduled to meet on Monday, but the meeting was put back.

Telford & Wrekin CCG's governing board is expected to meet to discuss the recommendation on October 11, and Shropshire CCG, the following day, on Wednesday, October 12.

The four options under consideration are having one emergency centre and women and children's services at either PRH or RSH, with planned care on the other site, having an emergency centre on one site and women and children's services on the other site, or to carry on with the current system.

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