County to have one major A&E unit

Princess Royal Hospital is currently one of two major A&E units in the county

Shropshire should have one accident and emergency unit for the most serious cases, senior doctors have said.

The recommendation is made in a report examining health care in the county over the next 12 years.

It said A&E units should be at Royal Shrewsbury and Princess Royal hospitals but that only one site should deal with serious cases needing major surgery.

The report also recommended that one site should be dedicated for children's in-patient wards.

Both Royal Shrewsbury and Princess Royal hospitals would continue to provide emergency treatment for the majority of patients.

The proposals will be considered by Shropshire County and Telford and Wrekin primary care trusts next week.

'Better and safer'

Currently the most complicated A&E cases, such as serious head injuries, are dealt with by hospitals in Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent.

The report said this should continue in the future but only one site in Shropshire should deal with emergencies requiring major surgery.

The other would deal with simpler emergencies such as bone breaks but not multiple fractures.

It said this was to provide "better and safer clinical care" for patients.

The report said efforts should be made to treat sick children at home as much as possible.

Dr Catherine Woodward, director of public health for Telford and Wrekin PCT, said: "Very few children need hospital admission and most children who are admitted to hospital only need a very short stay.

"There is much more that the local NHS can do to support children to be cared for at home, providing rapid assessment and home support through specialist children's nurses providing 'hospital at home'.

"We plan to develop a 'hospital at home' service alongside children's assessment services at both hospitals."