Future Fit: Telford & Wrekin Council votes against preferred option for healthcare

Members of Telford & Wrekin Council voted unanimously to continue campaigning against proposals to downgrade A&E services at Telford’s PRH in favour of one emergency and trauma department based in Shrewsbury.

A joint committee recommended the plans as part of the Future Fit process to reorganise Shropshire’s major hospital services.

Proposals include a new emergency centre and women and children’s services at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, while planned surgery, orthopaedics and specialist centres would be based in Telford.

The vote came after a notice of motion was put forward by council leader Shaun Davies at Telford & Wrekin’s full council meeting on Thursday night.

It called for the council not to support the selection of Shrewsbury’s hospital as the main base for the county’s emergency care.

The motion also said that the council should keep campaigning and do everything possible to encourage the residents of Telford and Wrekin to protect services at PRH.

Mr Davies said: "Whatever happens as a result of this Future Fit shambles it's the worst of both worlds for everyone."

He said consultant-led services available at the Women and Children’s Centre needed to stay in Telford, adding: "That is where the clinical need is."

Seconding the motion, deputy leader Councillor Richard Overton said the preferred choice by Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) is also the most expensive option.

Councillor Arnold England, cabinet member for communities, health and wellbeing, said clinicians should be seeking to work in the "growing" and "vibrant" town of Telford.

Councillor Nicola Lowery, who represents the Ironbridge Gorge ward, expressed her "sincere disappointment" in the preferred option put forward by the CCGs.

She said: "The health inequalities between Telford and Shropshire are substantial and we have one of the fastest growing populations in the UK.

"The factual evidence that secured the women and children’s unit in Telford is even more relevant today evidencing why the emergency care centre site should be located at the PRH in Telford."

She said the council should also focus its efforts on informing the public of what services are being proposed at both sites and urge everyone to participate fully in the consultation.

Councillor Kuldip Sahota, who represents the Malinslee and Dawley Bank ward, said Telford's population was likely to grow to 200,000 within the next 10 years and spoke against downgrading services at PRH.

Councillor Bill Tomlinson, who represents the Shawbirch ward, said he was deeply disappointed if services cannot be retained at both hospitals in Telford and Shrewsbury, but added that if it is not possible the council should fight for full services to be kept at PRH.

He added: "It's also the cheapest option. It should be based there."