Public rally planned in bid to retain A&E at Shrewsbury hospital

Councillor Alan Mosley, the Labour leader of the council, said the campaign would be making sure that the voice of Shrewsbury is heard "loud and clear".

He called on members of the public to join the rally, which will take place in the autumn.

It comes after Shrewsbury Town Council's members voted to back a motion for Royal Shrewsbury Hospital to retain its A&E unit – currently at risk from the Future Fit reorganisation of Shropshire's health services and two main hospitals.

Councillor Mosley said: "I was delighted that the meeting supported our motion so that we can now go on to make the voice of Shrewsbury heard loud and clear.

"It is highly unlikely that an underfunded NHS will sustain two fully resourced A&E centres so we are planning to mount a campaign to ensure that an A&E or emergency care centre continues in Shrewsbury.

"It will start with a rally in the autumn which will invite all interested groups, including Shrewsbury's MP Daniel Kawczynski."

Councillor Mosley said he expects huge public support for the rally.

He said: "I believe there will be massive public interest in this and residents will want to participate in doing what they can to save Shrewsbury's A&E facilities and we will need to book a large venue and ensure that everyone has access to the rally."

Councillor Mosley said that councillors and members of the public from across the county who use Royal Shrewsbury Hospital will be invited to join the rally.

He said: "We will also be inviting other relevant town and parish council, including those in Mid Wales, to join us in seeking to protect and save services in Shrewsbury."

Shrewsbury Town Council's decision to back the motion was in contrast to Shropshire Council, where the wording calling for Royal Shrewsbury Hospital to retain the A&E unit was removed from the motion, and then passed by the authority's Conservative majority.

Councillor Mosley said the move had let the town's residents down.

He said: "It was shameful that local Tory members on Shropshire Council were not able to stand up for Shrewsbury residents and defy their party whip by voting for the motion two weeks ago."

Telford & Wrekin Council is running its own campaign for Princess Royal Hospital to retain its A&E unit called A&E 4 PRH.