I am delighted that this week the NHS took a large step forward in the long-running campaign for greater investment to transform services in our acute hospitals in Shropshire.

All six MPs whose constituents across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Montgomeryshire use Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, had come together to support clinicians’ plans to improve service provision in our acute hospitals as well as in the community.

The Health Secretary, Steve Barclay MP, was persuaded to confirm in one of his last acts before the change in PM next week, that the Strategic Outline Case for the Hospital Transformation Plan has been approved. This moves a critical step closer to bringing about the huge capital investment in healthcare in Shropshire of £312 million. allowing SaTH to progress to the next stage in the process.

SaTH clinicians have worked hard to develop this major transformation of the way acute healthcare is delivered in Shropshire. RSH will be the focus for emergency care and PRH for planned care, but with an A&E Local provision at PRH which will treat some two thirds of patients currently attending its A&E.

But the plan also puts community-based care at the heart of the new services, ensuring closer partnership working with local authorities, partners and community groups and deliver better patient outcomes by using their workforce more effectively.

The critical driver is to ensure healthcare in Shropshire is future proofed with state-of-the-art facilities, enabling staff to focus on improving patient outcomes. This will help recruit and retain staff. Patients will be seen more quickly, with fewer cancellations of planned care. Patient flow will be improved, vital to reduce ambulance handover times in Shropshire. The plan aims to deliver a more sustainable, higher-quality health and care system in the county.

The Government also announced last week an expanded surgical hub, with two additional operating theatres at PRH to help tackle the current backlog in elective surgeries following the disruption of the pandemic. 

I urge the NHS in Shropshire, and all who want to see it improve its services to patients, to get behind this plan and work at pace to get through remaining approvals so construction can commence as soon as possible.

I shall continue to work with colleagues in Parliament and local healthcare leaders in Shropshire to ensure this plan is delivered.