Council urged to look at alternative hospital plan
A council is being urged to look again at a single site hospital built in Northumbria as an example of a plan for Shropshire.
Councillor Andrew Eade, Conservative group leader on Telford & Wrekin Council, has submitted a motion to the authority calling on it to send a delegation to Cramlington, to see how it handled the creation of a new hospital.
It comes as there have been renewed calls from county politicians for a single site hospital solution to replace the future Fit plans to reorganise the services at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) and Princess Royal Hospital in Telford (PRH).
One of the voices suggesting the possibility of a new hospital between Telford and Shrewsbury is Councillor Shaun Davies.
In response, Councillor Eade, who has previously led a fact finding mission to Cramlington, said: "I am encouraged that Councillor Davies has at long last accepted the option of a new hospital located between Shrewsbury and Telford.
"I look forward to full support across the Council for our motion, submitted last week, calling for Telford & Wrekin to finally swing behind this ‘third option’ for our county’s health provision.
“Just over two years ago I, along with Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard, Councillor Nigel Dugmore, and former head of the Princess Royal Hospital, Mr. David Sandbach was part of a fact finding delegation to the cutting edge and exciting facilities at Cramlington in Northumbria, which have a similar configuration and population size to ourselves.”
“Although we submitted a full report to Telford & Wrekin Council and a considerable amount of media coverage, we did not even receive the courtesy of a reply, let alone consideration of our proposals. Sadly the authority went on to pursue other options and alternatives which have sadly led nowhere.
“Despite this being the fourth different option pursued by Telford & Wrekin Council, I really hope that the council’s leadership have finally grasped what could be achieved with a joined up and concerted effort. I further hope that this change of heart is genuine and will be maintained.
“It is now time for Telford and Wrekin Council to consider the exciting and futuristic opportunities and options for a 21st Century health provision. It is also time to start working in partnership with others, which all of our communities in Shropshire and beyond deserve and rightly expect.”
Responding Councillos Davies said: "Telford and Wrekin Council and Telford and Wrekin Labour have led the campaign against Future Fit, it is clear it’s a failed model. Instead of this being recognised by Conservatives locally and nationally they have attempted to rail road plans to close our A&E and Women and Women and Children Unit. Now with news that the cost of this closure plan has reached over half a billion pounds it is right that the government and local health bosses look at options once again. Myself and the Leader of Shropshire Council have floated the idea of one super hospital fairly and centrally located between Telford and Shrewsbury as a compromise option. All other options need to be considered including the retention of both A&Es.
"What is being lost in this debate is the funding required not just for buildings but also services. GP access has got worse in Telford and Wrekin. GP out of hours provision has been cut. Adult social care funding has been cut. Mental health services have not been improved. All of these issues directly link to the crisis we are in now and all come from the funding decisions of the government over the last 10 years.
"Councillor Eade's suggestion, is far too simplistic, we will bring forward a policy suggestion that really holds local health bosses and the national government to account on this issue as well as designed to seek a cross county, cross party support.
"Councillor Eade should unite with us locally to make a positive case to government and not to let his government off the hook on this issue."
