Glyn Davies, Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire, has met with Peter Herring, Chief Executive of the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Hospitals Trust to discuss plans to reorganise NHS services in Shropshire.
For several years, firstly as an Assembly Member and latterly as MP representing Montgomeryshire, Glyn Davies has maintained close contact with healthcare delivery over the border in Shropshire. Yesterday’s meeting followed last week's announcement by NHS leaders in Shropshire that they intend "to hold a debate across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Mid Wales about how to provide "sustainable acute and community hospital services that best meet the needs of our urban and rural communities"
Glyn Davies has also written today to the Chair of Powys Community Health Council asking that public meetings be called in Llanidloes, Newtown, Welshpool and Llanfyllin, to engage the people of Montgomeryshire within the natural area served by Shropshire Hospitals. He has suggested that public meetings should be called when there is a clearer idea of what options are being considered, probably early in the New Year. Glyn Davies has already discussed this issue, so crucial to the people of Montgomeryshire, with the Constituency Assembly Member, Russell George.
Commenting after yesterday’s discussions with Peter Herring, Glyn Davies said;
"Shropshire hospitals are hugely important to mid Wales, particularly the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. We want these hospitals to provide safe and readily accessible services, particularly for urgent and emergency care. I am pleased and relieved that there is an acceptance that both main hospitals will provide this into the future."
"There is no doubt that the horrors of what happened at Mid Staffordshire Hospital have sent a tremor through the entire NHS. It’s certainly had an effect on me. We simply cannot allow hospital services to continue unsupported by the appropriate level of qualified clinician. This may lead to changes in the services provided. My job is to do all I can to ensure these services are as accessible as possible to Montgomeryshire."
Russell George AM added his support to the demand that services remain accessible to Montgomeryshire and commented;
"It’s crucial that public meetings be held in each of the main towns affected by changes in the NHS in Shropshire. The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital has always been Montgomeryshire's main hospital and we do not want to see important services moved further away".