The proposed changes to the services provided at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital will have a huge impact on those living in the South of Shropshire. They are proposing to move all women’s, children’s and Consultant Maternity services to Telford.
It is of course important to understand the funding issues behind this move and the wish to provide top quality services for our residents. The problem for us in the south, from Newcastle on Clun, Bishop Castle to Chirbury and Worthen – and even Ludlow- is that emergency access to hospital is very poor. If a pregnant women haemorrhages at home or has severe complications the outlook can be very bleak for her or the baby. The same holds true for children suffering severe asthma attacks or receiving cancer care. Neither category can use the Air ambulance. Furthermore the air ambulance cannot be used at night or in bad weather. This extra distance to Telford is therefore a very significant issue and not safe.
Cllr Nigel Hartin and I have been meeting with the Hospital Trust, ambulance services and the PCT to try to raise awareness of these significant problems.They have been acknowledged as a significant issue .
Could we know where our MP, Philip Dunne stands on this issue? So far he has been very silent. Is he going to stand up for our communities before the consultation ends on 14th March?