Emergency Meeting Triggered Over New Health Fiasco
Following today’s meeting of the SaTH (Shrewsbury and Telford Hosipital) NHS Trust and their proposals for the overnight closure of Telford’s A&E Emergency provision, the Conservative Group at Telford & Wrekin Council have triggered the process to hold an Extraordinary Full Council Meeting to both condemn the proposals and express no confidence in SaTH’s ability to provide safe and sustainable health services for Shropshire and Telford.
Conservative group Leader Andrew Eade said “We fully accept what clinicians are telling us in that they cannot attract Consultants to adequately staff two small separate Emergency A&E units at Shrewsbury and Telford.”
“We have been told that finances are available to fund extra Consultants but, as they do not want to come, we are left short of emergency cover and in a dangerous position.”
“As SaTH have dithered over resolving this issue for some time, we have now run out of both patience and confidence in their ability to resolve the problem. Closing accident and emergency provision at the PRH for any length of time is wholly unacceptable.”
“My group’s position is very clear, as the Women and Children’s Unit was built at Telford due to clinical need just 3 short years ago and at a cost of £28m, that is where it must remain. As this unit cannot safely operate without Consultant cover, it inescapable that full Emergency A&E Cover for Shropshire must be provided at the Princess Royal Hospital.”
“This is also the cheapest option for our local health providers and as they seem blind to these simple facts, it is perhaps time that they were replaced by a totally independent body to bring this long running farce to an end.”