Telford MPs say they will fight for the Princess Royal Hospital after leading NHS experts announced they believe only one hospital is needed to treat the county’s most seriously ill and injured patients.
The National Clinical Advisory Team has been looking at the future of the hospitals and say urgent changes to the area’s acute clinical services – currently offered at the PRH and the Royal Shrewsbury – need to be made.
Mark Pritchard, Wrekin MP, said he believed there should still be two acute hospitals.
“Given the geographic size of the borough and county, two hospitals are essential,” he said.
“I will fight any proposals to further downgrade the PRH. In the drive for Foundation status, I hope hospital chiefs will not repeat the mistakes of other acute trusts.”
David Wright, MP for Telford, said he would also be fighting for the Princess Royal.
“It is clear from the whirl of speculation and rumour that the consultation process relating to local health services is a shambles,” he said. “The Princess Royal Hospital serves a growing town and I will be fighting for comprehensive services here in Telford.
“Recent trends in emergency admissions show both hospitals are struggling to cope, so there is little chance one could do so alone.
“We need accident and emergency units on both sites, along with a wide range of associated services, and that means health bosses need to get out from behind their desks in Shrewsbury and start to design a health service that serves the biggest population centre in the county, which is Telford.”
