Give us more time plea over PRH
The Board of the Trust which runs Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) is being urged to give more time for a rescue plan to stop the planned overnight closure of the hospital’s A&E department.
The plea comes from Telford & Wrekin Council leader Shaun Davies who is leading a range of initiatives across the community to help stop the closure.
His call comes as The Telford and Shrewsbury Hospital Trust’s Board meets next week and is expected to set the date for the overnight A&E closure.
Among the initiatives the Council has undertaken in the past two weeks to stop the overnight closure of PRH’s A&E include:
• An online Government petition signed by more than 23,200 people
• Lobbying of the Secretary of State for Health and NHS to intervene and stop the planned closure
• A community appeal to refurbish three houses at PRH to help attract new junior and middle grade doctors to the hospital
• A meeting with the Indian Consul General in Birmingham to see what can be done to help attract and recruit A&E doctors and nurses from India to work at PRH
• A public march on 4 November in Wellington to object to the planned closure of PRH’s A&E and for the Government to organise a rescue plan to stop it happening.
Cllr Davies said: “The community is really coming together and is desperate to do all it can to stop the overnight closure of PRH’s A&E.
“We are making good progress and coming up with some new ways that together we can support the PRH and help the hospital overcome its recruitment difficulties.
“We must also keep the pressure on Government and the NHS because it is in their power to stop this planned closure now.
“I urge members of SaTH‘s Board– do not rush into a closure date. We are making huge progress and working flat out to help you find solutions.
“Give us more time.”
