Health campaigner hits out at plans for Telford women and children's centre

Gill George, chair of Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Defend Our NHS, said that under the proposals the PRH would lose its consultant-led obstetric unit "at the heart of current maternity care".

Shaun Davies, the Labour leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, also said he felt the move was a "downgrade through the back door".

Simon Wright, chief executive of the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said the review would have no effect on the PRH continuing to provide a midwife-led unit, an early pregnancy assessment service, ante natal and post natal care, day case surgery, gynaecology and paediatric services. He said about 70 per cent of women and children cases would still be seen at PRH.

However Ms George said this means the PRH would still see reduced services.

She said: "We’ve seen countless failed attempts now to persuade Telford people that closing the A&E and women’s and children’s centre at PRH is about better healthcare.

"No one believed it – so there’s a bit of a change of tack. The proposals are the same, but the new sales pitch is to use fancy language to describe reduced services.

"The PRH will lose the consultant-led obstetric unit, at the heart of current maternity care.

"It will lose all its children’s in-patient beds. It will lose obstetric emergency and acute care, and gynaecological emergency and acute care.

"What stays? A mid-wife led unit, like the one Shrewsbury has now. There will be an early pregnancy assessment service, again like the one Shrewsbury has now.

"There is one big change in the last few weeks. Hospital bosses used to admit that Telford will lose its women’s and children’s centre.

"The claim now is that there will be two women’s and children’s centres.

"One will have the consultant-led obstetric unit, and children’s in-patient care, and obstetric and gynaecological emergency and acute care. The other, at the PRH, will have – not much.

"Campaigners believe that we need decent services at both hospitals, Telford and Shrewsbury alike.

"That’s important, for the simple reason that our lives are at stake.

"Whatever the outcome, though, local people deserve to be given honest information about proposals for change. What a shame that this isn’t happening."

Mr Wright said: “Our intention, if our proposals are approved, is to maintain a women and children’s centre at PRH no matter what decision is made about where the emergency centre should be based.

“Based on the latest data, this would mean that at least seven out of 10 contacts, such as attendances or appointments, for women and children would remain at PRH either through the women and children’s centre or a new accident and urgent care centre, even if it was the planned care site."