Shropshire Star

Future Fit: Time running out for backing of third hospital option

Time looks to have run out in an attempt to get council backing for a third option to be included on the Future Fit consultation over Shropshire's health provision.

Published

Telford & Wrekin Councillor, and opposition Conservative group leader Andrew Eade, said that a motion suggesting the creation of a new hospital between Telford and Shrewsbury is now likely to be heard in April at the earliest – by which time health chiefs hope to have already opened the consultation on the future of the county's hospitals.

Councillor Eade has been calling for a third option to be included in a public consultation on the future of Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital Telford. He is suggesting is the creation of a new emergency centre built between Telford and Shrewsbury, based on one created in Northumbria.

The motion was due to be discussed on March 1, but poor weather led to the meeting of full council being cut short.

Councillor Eade has expressed his frustration over the issue and suggested his political opponents had not wanted to see the motion discussed.

However, the authority's Labour deputy leader, Richard Overton said that the adjournment had been agreed, and that his political opponent could write to local health bosses.

Councillor Eade said: "This is such a vital issue that we were pressing council to support having a question about a third option on the consultation paper so people across Shropshire, and Powys for that matter, would have the opportunity to have a say on a very important option.

"This issue is very important to us. In January we requested an urgent meeting so it could be discussed. It could have taken place at very little cost but that was stopped on political grounds.

Denied

"At the last council meeting there was the opportunity to discuss this when again the opportunity was denied. The meeting was curtailed and it was taken off the agenda and we were promised it would be discussed soon. Once again the administration is denying us the opportunity to discuss it."

However, Councillor Overton hit back and also criticised the basis of the motion, insisting it would see Princess Royal Hospital losing its women and children's unit.

He said: "Group leaders agreed to adjourn the motions to a date to be agreed, I am certain that the motion will be debated within the next month or so. The suggestion there was urgency around this seems not to be the case as the consultation hasn’t started yet. There is nothing stopping Councillor Eade writing to local health bosses on this matter.

"It’s important for residents to note that the motion as currently drafted would see the women and children's unit leave Telford, which for me is unacceptable and is a sell out to to the families of Telford and Wrekin and families around Telford and Wrekin. "

Bosses behind the Future Fit shake-up have previously rejected councillor Eade's suggestion and have said they intend to continue with plans to consult on two options.

They would see the creation of one emergency centre for the county at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, as well as moving women and children’s services to the hospital from Telford. Princess Royal Hospital would then become the centre for planned care.

Future Fit officials said they had looked at similar health models in other areas of the country and considered more than 40 ideas.

But they say each health model was specifically designed to fit the needs and existing facilities of a particular area and population.

Future Fit spokeswoman Pam Schreier said: “Our priority has always been to find the best possible model of hospital care for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

“In developing our proposed model of hospital care, we considered over 40 initial ideas which included various options of having a three-site hospital model with a single emergency care site.

“We have looked at national best practice and guidance as well as similar health systems across the country, including Northumbria.”