26 January 2023

Communities from across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales joined a livestream on Tuesday 24 January to hear the latest on plans to improve local hospital services.

Key clinical leads from the Hospitals Transformation Programme (HTP), representing The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), led the session which talked people through how the programme has developed since the clinical model was agreed following public consultation, and during the development and approval of the Strategic Outline Case by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England (NHSE) last year.

Dr Ed Rysdale, Emergency Medicine Consultant at SaTH and Clinical Director for HTP, said: “We’re really pleased that so many people joined the livestream to hear an update on our plans to transform services and develop two thriving hospital sites so that we can provide excellent and sustainable care into the future.

“Our communities are passionate about improving our services, as are those who work in them, and there is a real commitment to develop the best services for everyone.

“This year is crucial for the programme as we work towards securing the final national approval and I look forward to continuing our stakeholder conversations and directly hearing people’s feedback in the coming months as we run a series of focus group discussions and further public meetings on how services will be delivered.”

HTP is one part of a wider ambition to improve health and care services for everyone in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales. It will see substantial investment in our two thriving hospital sites – Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, with:

  • 24/7 enhanced urgent care services at both sites, delivered through an A&E Local Model in Telford
  • A dedicated Emergency Department with faster access to medical and surgical specialties
  • A dedicated facility for planned care so that planned procedures can take place with dedicated teams all year round
  • Services that are more resilient to seasonal pressures and future pandemics

The session this week gave an introductory overview of current developments in the programme and over the coming months, there will be more ways to get involved in informing the development plans for urgent and emergency care, planned care and women and children’s services.

Mr Richard Steyn, Medical Director for Strategy and Partnerships at SaTH, said: “The plans have been in development for some time. We have been through a public consultation, independent review and the Strategic Outline Case was approved by the DHSC and NHSE in August 2022.“Now, we are working with our clinicians, our support services and members of the community to put the detail into what this means and there will be many opportunities to directly get involved in the next steps of our journey over the coming weeks, months and years.

“This winter and the COVID-19 pandemic has further shown that we need to change now, and I am excited for the future of our services and the better care we will be able to provide for our patients.”

Members of the public were invited to submit questions in advance of the session who will all be responded to and added to our FAQS.

You can view the recording of the meeting here: https://youtu.be/EZkcm9WoPdE

If you want to hear more about what’s happening at our hospitals and how to get involved, email sath.engagement@nhs.net

Any questions relating directly to the Hospitals Transformation Programme, please contact: sath.improvinghospitals@nhs.net