Future Fit feedback under consideration

Bosses at Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group say no decision has yet been made.

A public consultation ran from May to September last year, featuring two options and asking how they would affect people.

Both options would see a single emergency centre created in the county.

It would be supported by urgent care centres at both Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Telford's Princess Royal Hospital.

Christine Morris, executive lead for nursing, quality and safety at Telford & Wrekin CCG, said: “No decision has yet been made with regard to the Future Fit consultation.

"We are continuing a period of conscientious consideration in which key stakeholders have taken time to hear, reflect and comment on the feedback from the public consultation which took place from May 30 to September 11.

“In addition, they are looking in detail at the additional work that has been ongoing for some months.

"This includes public, community and non-emergency travel and transport activity, ambulance modelling, the impact that any changes to hospital services may have on seldom heard groups and the proposed plans to improve community services for health and care closer to home.”

There will be further discussion and feedback given in both private and public meetings of health organisations this month.

This will be considered by Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin CCGs ahead of a joint committee meeting.

Organisations which will be discussing the proposals and giving feedback over the next few weeks include the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust board, Montgomeryshire committee of Powys Community Health Council, the Future Fit programme board and Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Council's joint health overview and scrutiny committee.

A number of concerns were raised during the Future Fit public consultation process.

Travelling times and distance were frequently used as arguments against both proposed options.

Other feedback said Future Fit was being ‘too limited’ in not including community services.

There were some who also said a centralised hospital would be a better solution.

Just over half of those who filled in the surveys were from the Telford and Wrekin area.

To view the plans and documents visit nhsfuturefit.org