Should the consultation, which is due to end in mid March, reject the proposals, it is very likely a number of key services will no longer be provided at the Princess Royal nor the Royal Shrewsbury hospitals.

The viability of a hospital trust for Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin would also be threatened and the running of the local hospitals could be taken over by another trust from outside the area.

Telford & Wrekin Council leader Andrew Eade said: “At stake is retaining both acute hospitals and services for the whole area. We do not have the luxury of starting from scratch and have to be honest – you cannot please every possible interest.

“We cannot afford go back to arguments based on parochial boundaries and interests. It’s not a Shrewsbury v Telford issue. It is though about saving Shropshire’s hospitals.

“The views of local people have helped to shape the proposals that have come forward.  These may not be perfect, but it is a solution that has been long debated and retains services equitably within Shropshire for the benefit of all.”

Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow said: “We will be holding a special Cabinet meeting to consider the options and give members of the public an opportunity to share their views. What we hope to gain is to seek the best possible solution to this issue whilst accepting that ‘no’ change is not an option. The key thing is to bring these issues to the fore, so everyone can have their say.”

“If we fail to find a sensible way forward, we risk losing for ever services in the county to other more specialised hospitals outside this area.”

The NHS is now consulting on a new set of proposals to reconfigure services at the area’s two main hospitals – the PRH and RSH. These include:

– The creation of a women and children’s centre at PRH.  Head and Neck services would also relocate to PRH – this is because a high volume of ENT cases are procedures for children.

– The creation of an acute surgery centre at RSH, for acute inpatient vascular surgery, colorectal surgery and upper gastro-intestinal surgery – patients who need access to emergency surgery at PRH would be provided for through a senior non-resident on call team of experienced surgeons. Other acute surgery will be transferred to RSH or dealt with through urgent outpatient and day case on the PRH site.

– Medical patients would as now access services on both sites.

Both hospitals would continue to offer outpatient services, day case surgery, midwife led maternity, emergency and inpatient orthopaedic surgery and 24-hour A&E

The councils are urging people to have their say as part of the consultation by attending a consultation meeting at:

– Craven Arms Community Centre , 9 Feb 7pm
– Shrewsbury Town FC, 11 Feb, 7pm
– Holiday Inn, Telford,  16 Feb, 7pm

Making comments at www.ournhsinshropshireandtelford.nhs.uk