Telford council backing for Shropshire NHS changes

A woman and children's centre will be created at Princess Royal Hospital in Telford

Proposed changes to hospital services in Shropshire look set to get a council's backing.

Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust have put forward ideas such as moving children's and maternity services from Shrewsbury to Telford.

Demonstrators have voiced concerns saying some people will have to travel further for treatment.

Telford & Wrekin Council is being asked to support the changes, with group leaders already giving their backing.

The council's Conservative leader Andrew Eade and deputy leader Jacqui Seymore have put forward a motion calling on the council to back the proposals.

'Full emergency service'

The motion says the changes will reconfigure services so that both hospitals, the Princess Royal in Telford and the Royal Shrewsbury, will continue to operate on their existing sites.

Councillor Eade said the issue was a vital one for everyone in the county and the council had sought assurances that what is proposed represents the only solution for the borough and Shropshire.

"It also ensure there is an equitable balance of services on both sites with both maintaining full accident and emergency services - this has been Telford & Wrekin Council's line in the sand," he said.

The council will discuss the motion on 3 March. A consultation on the changes ends on 14 March.