Jeremy Corbyn offers solidarity to Telford A&E marchers
Jeremy Corbyn has backed the thousands of Telford residents who marched in protest at plans for an overnight closure of the town’s A&E.
Telford & Wrekin Council estimated that there were more than 3,000 people at the rally on Sunday, fighting against the plans for a temporary overnight closure at the nearby Princess Royal Hospital.
And the Labour leader shared his backing for the campaigners on social media, insisting his party would keep the A&E open.
Writing on Twitter on Sunday he said: “From an old Shropshire lad, we need an A&E in Telford and Labour will retain it. Solidarity to all those taking part in today’s rally.”
He was responding to a tweet from the march posted by Katrina Gilman, who will be Labour’s candidate for Telford in the next general election.
Mr Corbyn grew up near Newport, worked as a reporter for the Newport Advertiser, and said the county helped form his political views.
His remarks came as the leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, Councillor Shaun Davies, thanked those who joined in the march. He also insisted that the town must be prepared for a further battle over the Future Fit hospital review which has recommended that the county’s only A&E is based at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
Councillor Davies said: “A huge thank you to the thousands who gave up their Sunday morning to show their support for the PRH and the strength of opposition to the planned overnight closure of its A&E.
“3,000 people turned out, 30,000 people have signed the petition calling for a government-backed rescue plan and we will not stand idle, we will continue to fight for what is right and that is an A&E in Telford & Wrekin.
United
“Wolverhampton, Dudley, Shropshire, Mid Wales, all coming together united in a cause because it could easily be Shrewsbury, or Wolverhampton, or Birmingham and it is important we stay united on this cause. We must fight and fight again to stop this closure taking place.”
“This is not the end; if we succeed in getting the overnight closure plan scrapped we will fight to ensure our A&E is never downgraded and we never lose our consultant led woman and children unit.”
“If it does close we will use every day ahead to fight for to re-open.”
Shrewsbury & Telford Hospitals NHS Trust said the decision to recommend the temporary closure had been taken because of a shortage of consultants and middle grade doctors.
Under the current proposal from December 5 Telford’s A&E would close from 10pm to 8am.
