A Telford MP has accused health bosses of wasting money on “grandiose feasibility studies” instead of investing more cash into the Princess Royal Hospital.
Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard’s attack follows a decision by healthstrategists to call for a feasibility study over previously floated proposals to build a third major hospital somewhere between Shrewsbury and Telford, to act as a frontline 999 trauma and emergency centre.
Mr Pritchard, a long term campaigner against hospital cuts, believes the pressure of another hospital “would inevitably build to wind down services at the Princess Royal.”
No location has been published for this new hospital but it is understood the Atcham area has been considered.
This week’s decision was taken by The National Clinical Advisory Team (NCAT), an independent body of clinicians, who said the report should be commissioned as soon as possible.
NCAT offers support, advice and guidance to NHS organisations.
Almost at the same time, peformance reports showed both the Princess Royal and its sister hospital, the Royal Shrewsburuy, are struggling under current workloads, particularly over accident cases, whose numbers have outstripped predictions.
Both hospitals are failing to hit the key target in admission times through casualty units. The national target is 98 per cent of patients must be admitted, discharged or transferred within four hours of registering at accident and emergency.
The February figure for the trust was 96.2 per cent and the target has been hit just four times over the past 13 months.
At the same time, the hospitals are under pressure over beds because of a huge rise in admissions, particularly of elderly patients with winter ailments. More than 50 extra beds have been opened.
Mr Pritchard said: “Rather than wasting money on grandiose feasibility studies - bosses should use the money to reduce existing bed shortages, recruit extra cancer nurses, and fully staff the PRH accident and emergency unit at night.”
Mr Alan Millward, chairman of the Princess Royal’s League of Friends, said: “In my view, if they have got money to spend, why not put the two hospitals they’ve got into good working order? Why talk about a third hospital? Where is the money coming from? It is crazy.”
Councillor Pat Smart, chairman of Hadley and Leegomery Parish Council – in whose area the hospital stands – said: “ The council has already expressed growing concern over these proposals. “I am disgusted. The PRH will go to the wall and be downgraded.”
Tom Taylor, chief executive of Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said the feasibility study into a third hospital was a “health economy review,” which had to be undertaken to find the best way forward for provision of health services.
He added: “Until the option appraisal is completed later this year, it would be wrong to speculate on the outcome. This process has been clinically-led and reviewed by an external clinical action team appointed by the Department of Health. Once the option appraisal has been undertaken, it will be for NHS boards to make a decision.”