Decision On The Future Of Health Services In The Region Must Be Made Soon For Sake Of Patients

Expert medical negligence lawyers at leading law firm Irwin Mitchell are calling for an end to delays to a public consultation on the future of Shropshire Hospitals.

The Future Fit process is currently on hold after members of Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin clinical commissioning groups failed to reach a decision on whether to back a recommendation to base the region’s main accident and emergency unit at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, while transferring the Princess Royal Hospital's Women and Children's Centre there also.

The move, first proposed in November last year, has been challenged by Telford & Wrekin Council, which has threatened legal action.

Last week health bosses from the Future Fit Programme Board said they were looking to launch the review in June after a candidate had been appointed to lead the process.

But expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell say that continued delays will lead to a crisis of confidence among patients.

Expert Opinion

“The proposed plans will be the source of significant concern to patients who will fear a loss of services or difficulties in accessing help when they need it.

“It’s important now that the delays which have so hampered the consultation process to this point now come to an end so that patients can have their chance to raise their concerns. Further delay which just lead to a crisis in confidence which will make the process much more difficult to navigate.

“We will now be watching closely to ensure that the Future Fit Programme Board goes ahead with a full consultation and takes into account the views of the local service users as part of that process.” Sara Burns - Partner

Read more about the work of Irwin Mitchell's expert medical negligence lawyers here.