Montgomeryshire meetings on Shropshire health shake-up

The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital is one of the main district general hospitals for people living in Powys

Plans to shake up NHS services affecting many in Powys will be outlined at meetings organised by officials from over the English border.

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust will explain service changes to councils and others in Montgomeryshire.

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies said it was important for the trust to "maintain dialogue" in the area.

Proposals to reorganise some hospital services were approved by local NHS trust boards earlier this year.

Powys has no district general hospital but is served by the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, which are both in Shropshire, Wrexham Maelor, Bronglais in Aberystwyth, and Hereford County Hospital.

Specialist unit

Mr Davies said: "Reconfiguration of health services in Shropshire is very important to the people of Montgomeryshire.

"We want to retain as many services as possible in Shrewsbury, rather than be transferred to Telford.

"Inevitably, I am disappointed that paediatric services, which are currently available at both hospitals, are to be concentrated at a brand new £28m specialist unit at Telford."

But he said he welcomed the "continuation of a full trauma A&E service at Shrewsbury".

There will be meetings between health officials and Powys council, Welshpool, Newtown and Llanidloes town councils, the local community health council and other interested groups over the next few weeks.