Future Fit: Welsh First Minister backs Royal Shrewsbury Hospital to keep A&E

First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones confirmed his support for the plan, marking the first time his administration has made public comment on its preferred option for the location of A&E services for Shropshire and Mid Wales.

His intervention marks a significant step forward for those in the north of the county who say travelling to Telford for A&E services would be dangerous.

Mr Jones said: "Geographically, Shrewsbury is closer, and so we would prefer services to be based in Shrewsbury. It is important to ensure services are safe and sustainable, which is something, of course, that we've had to deal with ourselves.

"But clearly, from our perspective, we would wish to see services that are accessed by Welsh people in England as close to those Welsh patients as possible."

In February, NHS bosses in Shropshire and Mid Wales agreed to commission further work on the proposals from the Future Fit Programme Board.

An independent report will be now compiled by health experts, to review the work carried out so far in developing long-term options for NHS services in Shropshire and Mid Wales.

Montgomeryshire Welsh Assembly member Russell George said he hoped the Welsh Assembly would now be making strong representations to the NHS Future Fit programme board.

"I'm delighted that the First Minister has finally joined myself and MP Glyn Davies in calling for NHS emergency services to be retained and strengthened in Shrewsbury," he said. "I have always maintained it is common sense emergency care serving Shropshire and Mid Wales should be located in the centre of the region in Shrewsbury but, to date, the Welsh Government has previously baulked at the chance to add its considerable weight to my calls.

"Nevertheless, I'm pleased the First Minister has now finally supported the call and I look forward to receiving confirmation of this outcome when the independent panel reports back."