Important Communication From Your Member of Parliament Daniel Kawczynski
May 2018
Dear Constituent
Reconfiguration of Hospital Services for Shropshire
At last the long awaited consultation period has arrived and due to its importance, I am taking the unprecedented step of attempting to personally contact residents in Shrewsbury & Atcham to encourage you to make your voices heard. The proposed reconfiguration of services between the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital, Telford, depends on your support and, if approved, will unlock the secured investment of £312M, the biggest NHS spend in Shropshire ever!
Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are proposing to change the hospital services at the Royal Shrewsbury and Princess Royal hospitals so that one hospital becomes an Emergency Centre and the other becomes a Planned Care site. Both hospitals will have an urgent care centre that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This new model of hospital care has been designed by members of the public and over 300 clinicians, GPs and social care professionals. In the consultation there are two options which you will be asked for your views on:
Option One: The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital becomes an Emergency Centre and the Princess Royal Hospital becomes a Planned Care site.
Option Two: The Princess Royal Hospital becomes an Emergency Centre and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital becomes a Planned Care site.
Option One is the CCGs preferred option. More information about these options will be available on a new website which will go live on 30 May 2018: www.nhsfuturefit.org. I support Option One because:
- Most patients will still go to the same hospital as they do now.
- The North West Midlands and North Wales Major Trauma Network (encompassing senior clinicians from all hospitals providing trauma services across this area) have stated that if the Trauma Unit were moved to Telford, with longer travel times from mid Wales it would increase the risk for some patients.
- Having the Emergency Centre at Shrewsbury will mean fewer people will have to travel further for emergency care.
- Shrewsbury and mid Wales have an older population than Telford.
- Finally, this option offers the best value for money to taxpayers over the long term.
Local media coverage and public statements suggest to me that Telford residents are likely to support Option Two. It is therefore imperative that I encourage my constituents to share their views and ideas so that the CCGs can take these into consideration when they make their final decision. The consultation will begin on Wednesday 30 May 2018 and end at midnight on Tuesday 4 September 2018. We must take nothing for granted as without your positive support the consultation outcome could well reverse the position. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN.
Once the consultation starts you can view the consultation documents online and submit your views by filling out an online survey at www.nhsfuturefit.org. Alternatively you can request hard copies of the consultation document by calling 0300 3000 903 or via email at nhsfuturefit@nhs.net or by post from the Future Fit Programme Office, Oak Lodge, William Farr House, Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury SY3 8XL. You can then complete the paper copy of the survey, put it in an envelope and send it free of charge to FREEPOSTNHS FF CONSULTATION. In addition there will be public meetings and road shows planned over the coming weeks which I recommend you attend.
Thank you for your support for Shropshire hospitals. Securing the best outcome is my highest priority, and I will continue to work as hard as I can on your behalf to see through these reforms. If you are inspired by my campaign please feel free to contact me at my constituency office, Flat 1, 17 Meadow Terrace, Shrewsbury SY1 1PE. Telephone 01743 233646 or Email: daniel.kawczynski.mp@parliament.uk.
Yours sincerely
Daniel Kawczynski - Member of Parliament for Shrewsbury and Atcham
Please be assured that no public money has been spent on the production of this letter which has been distributed by volunteers