Shrewsbury MP challenges election rival over plans to overhaul Shropshire's emergency hospitals

After years of delays the plan is at its most advanced stage yet, and is awaiting the sign-off for the final stage from the government.

The plans have not been without controversy – particularly in Telford over unhappiness at the loss of the town's 24-hour A&E department.

Under the scheme Royal Shrewsbury Hospital will become home to the county's only 24-hour A&E department, and will also take on consultant-led women and children's services, which will move over from Princess Royal Hospital Telford (PRH).

PRH in turn will become the county's centre for planned care, while both hospitals will have urgent care centres.

PRH was due to host what was described as an 'A&E Local' – but independent experts have told the Department of Health to drop the name because it does meet the level set for 'A&E' by the NHS across the country.

They said confusion caused by the issue could lead to a "risk to patient understanding and safety".

Now Shrewsbury's Conservative MP, Daniel Kawczynski, who has supported the £312m revamp of SaTH's services has asked his Labour opponent at the forthcoming general election, Councillor Julia Buckley, if she backs the scheme or not.

Mr Kawczynski has described the plans as the biggest issue facing his constituency and vital to provide improved health services to residents.

In response Councillor Buckley said it would be a "false economy", with the loss of Telford's A&E potentially leading to more pressure on RSH.

In a letter to his Labour opponent Mr Kawczynski said: "I am sure that you are aware of the issues that are affecting provision of health care services in Shropshire.

"As somebody who has spent a great deal of time with other Shropshire MPs, NHS directors and clinicians discussing how best to improve local NHS services, I invite you to support the Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Hospital Transformation Programme.

"Now that the project is moving forward in line with all the clinical recommendations, would you support the massive investment which will safeguard the residents of Shrewsbury, Shropshire and Mid-Wales?"

Councillor Buckley replied saying that "14 years of Conservative under-funding" had allowed SaTH to "slip down to nearly the bottom of the national league tables for performance".

She said: "As you are aware, Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital Trust (SATH) has been in effective government special measures since 2017, yet standards have got worse, staff moral is on the floor and complaints of bullying in their recent staff survey are shocking."

She added: "I also strongly reject the notion that investment in buildings should need any reduction in staffing. Unfortunately the much-reduced funding package for Shropshire’s “Hospital Transformation Programme” is predicated upon the county seeing one of it’s key A&E departments downgraded with loss of capacity for the half a million population spread over 1,234 square miles."

Councillor Buckley's reference to underfunding relates to the costs of the project.

SaTH was awarded £312m for the project by the government, but then submitted a plan for revamp which would have cost more than £500m.

The NHS then told the trust to produce a plan that met its budget – leading to a number of proposals being cut.

Councillor Buckley added: "Whilst new ward blocks are vitally important to support the work at the ageing Royal Shrewsbury Hospital estate; it is a false economy to deliver this at the expense of Telford’s A&E.

"If the A&E rationalisation goes ahead it could lead to even more extreme pressure at Shrewsbury’s A&E – the queues could literally double overnight – and they are already amongst the longest waiting times in the country. How could you support that?"