Politicians on attack over Telford A&E night closure plan

MP Mark Pritchard spoke in the Commons, calling for an "urgent debate" and saying he intended to lobby Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt directly.

And a motion of no confidence in the hospital trust is to be put forward to Telford & Wrekin Council.

Hospital board members have supported plans to prepare for night time closures at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital if staff shortages warrant it. Bosses say closure would only happen in a 'worst case' scenario.

Mr Pritchard claimed any move to close A&E at PRH would be against the law due to inadequate consultation.

He said: "Such moves should be consulted with the public, local authorities and local MPs.There has been no consultation and yet this proposal is going ahead in the autumn."

David Lidington, MP for Aylesbury and Leader of the House, said he was "concerned" and told Mr Pritchard "there is a power for the relevant committee of the local authority to ask the secretary of state to call that decision in and review it".

Telford & Wrekin Council leader Shaun Davies has already described the potential move as a "downgrade by the back door".

Mr Davies said he wants an emergency meeting of the council to take place.

And today it emerged that Telford's Tory group had also submitted the no confidence motion, which is expected to be debated in the coming days.

Telford's Conservative group leader Andrew Eade said: "We fully accept what clinicians are telling us in that they cannot attract consultants to adequately staff two small separate emergency A&E units at Shrewsbury and Telford.

"We have been told that finances are available to fund extra consultants but as they do not want to come, we are left short of emergency cover.

"As the hospital trust has dithered over resolving this issue for some time, we have now run out of both patience and confidence in its ability to resolve the problem. Closing accident and emergency provision at the Princess Royal Hospital for any length of time is wholly unacceptable.

"My group's position is very clear; as the Women and Children's Unit was built at Telford due to clinical need just three short years ago at a cost of £28 million, that is where it must remain.

"As this unit cannot safely operate without consultant cover, it is inescapable that full emergency cover for Shropshire must be provided at the PRH. This is also the cheapest option for our local health providers and as they seem blind to these simple facts, it is perhaps time that they were replaced by a totally independent body."