Telford & Wrekin Council supported the changes that had been proposed to the area’s two main acute hospitals – the Princess Royal and the Royal Shrewsbury – providing certain guarantees were forthcoming.

It said that the changes would reconfigure services so that the two acute hospitals would continue to operate on existing sites in both Telford and Shrewsbury, providing safe, high quality care, each with 24 hour accident and emergency cover and an equitable division of other services on both sites.

The council’s support was dependent on guarantees of safety and sustainability given by the chief executives of both the Shropshire and Telford primary care trusts, the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and the Royal College of Surgeons.

Council leader Andrew Eade said: “I believe this settles a very long running issue. Both the PRH and RSH lose and gain in equal measure. While this solution is not perfect it will help secure key hospital services at both sites for all of the area. The challenge is now to see how these changes are enacted.”

Cllrl Keith Austin, leader of the Labour Group, said: “The danger was very real that if we do not make these changes then another Trust would come and take services away from the area, which would have benefited no-one and undermined our longer term future. While not perfect this is a solution that works.”

Cllr Gill Green, leader of the Independents and Liberal Democrats Group said: “These issues have certainly been fully debated and clinicians and the community have all been able to have their say. This council believes that this represents the best way forward for everyone in both Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin.”

Cllr Vic Tonks, leader of TAWPA, said: “Now we have the decision, we must move forward and ensure that these changes happen as smoothly as possible for all patients and that our hospital services here continue to serve the whole population.”

Overview group endorses hospitals decision
The Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin met this evening following the decision of the Hospital Trust and PCT Boards to go ahead with the changes to hospital services at the Princess Royal in Telford and the Royal Shrewsbury.

The Joint Committee endorsed the decision made by the NHS Boards to ensure that health services will remain within the Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin area.

However the Committee agreed to continue to monitor this work to ensure all the assurances provided are put in place.

Cllr. Veronica Fletcher, who chaired the meeting, said: “It is vital that local people and the Joint Committee are kept informed about these changes. It is the role of this Committee to make sure that the Hospital Trust and PCTs keep their promises and people in the area receive a better service as a result of these changes.”

Cllr Gerald Dakin, who co- chairs the Committee, said: “This decision means that we can now make sure that local people get a better health service. The Scrutiny process has been a very positive piece of work and I want to thank everyone who has contributed to our work. The views of local people have been important to the Scrutiny Committee and we will continue to listen to what local people want.”