Rally call to join protest at hospital

A rallying call was today issued to people across Shropshire and Mid Wales to join a massive human chain around the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

More than 600 people are expected to turn out at the demonstration tomorrow in the fight to keep women and children's services at the site.

Wyn Williams, Liberal Democrat Assembly candidate for Montgomeryshire, and Shropshire councillor Heather Kidd will be attending the mass demonstration at 4pm.

The idea of a human chain was the brainchild of mother-of-two Donna Benbow, of Newtown. The 33-year-old says both of her daughters, now aged four and three, were born prematurely and may not have survived had she had to travel to the PRH.

Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, today urged as many people as possible to turn out for the protest.

He said: "I have spoken to the organisers and I am hoping to join them. I received a petition of 25,000 signatures against the plans yesterday."

Participants are asked to meet at 3.30pm outside Mytton Oak Surgery, in Racecourse Lane, Shrewsbury.

They are asked not to park at the hospital to avoid disruption.

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust plans to make the PRH the centre for women and children's services. The RSH would assume the role for acute surgery and major trauma. A decision over the plans will be made on March 24.