Boris Johnson says Telford A&E will be ‘kept open’ at manifesto launch – but is later corrected by Matt Hancock confirming downgrade plans Mr Johnson launched his party’s manifesto in Shropshire, where he said it will ‘certainly make sure that the A&E in Telford is kept open’

Boris Johnson has been corrected by Health Secretary Matt Hancock over downgrade plans for a local A&E department after the Prime Minister promised the hospital will be “kept open” during an event for the party’s manifesto launch.

The Conservatives launched their manifesto in Shropshire over the weekend, but when Mr Johnson was asked about the controversial plans to reorganise acute hospital provision in the county, he appeared to contradict his party’s proposals.

Under the NHS England Future Fit plans, the Princess Royal Hospital (RPH) in Telford will have its 24 hour A&E department closed while an “A&E Local” department will be opened in its stead during “core hours”.

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‘No new plans’ to save Telford A&E

The Prime Minister was asked during the manifesto launch if the party plans to press ahead with the proposals, which he responded to by saying his government would “certainly make sure that the A&E in Telford is kept open”.

He told a reporter at the event in the Telford International Centre: “I’m looking at Matt Hancock here, because I know that we have kept the A&E open and we will ensure that it is open, and I will absolutely insist on that – and I know that Matt will be very happy to give you more details afterwards.”

But the Health Secretary later told the Shropshire Star that the planned changes will not be scrapped.

Nick Humphreys, the reporter who asked the question, then tweeted: “Matt Hancock has just confirmed to me that there are no new plans to save Telford’s full time A&E dept.”

He added: “In fairness I’m not sure PM understood the question. Odd given it’s probably the most important issue in the town the manifesto is being delivered.”

Matt Hancock has just confirmed to me that there are no new plans to save Telford’s full time A&E dept — Nick Humphreys (@nhumphreys_star) November 24, 2019

‘Part-time’ emergency care

The Future Fit proposals, which were approved earlier this year by NHS management, set out plans to overhaul the hospital services in the area.

The plans include closing the Women & Children’s Centre at RPH and transferring it to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

The plans involve introducing an “A&E Local” at RPH to be be overseen by consultants but only open during certain hours.

Critics have said the plans will see the service become part-time and leave people in Telford up to a 50 minute drive from their local emergency department.

Telford Conservative candidate Lucy Allan has launched an online fundraising campaign to raise money to launch a legal challenge against the hospital changes. The campaign has already raised more than £3,000.

In a statement on the fundraising campaign’s page, she said: “Telford has poorer health outcomes, pockets of significant deprivation, and increasing health inequalities. Our health needs are greater and funding must follow need.

“We will use the money raised through this page to instruct solicitors with experience in challenging reconfiguration decisions, to review the Future Fit process and get a barrister’s specialist opinion on whether there are grounds to issue a judicial review.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn visited the constituency earlier in the month and pledged to keep the A&E department open full-time if his party gets into power.

He said: “[Shadow health secretary] Jonathan Ashworth and I have discussed this many times. We have discussed it with the council and I am absolutely clear there needs to be A&E departments in both Shrewsbury and Telford, full time.

“And I do pay tribute to all those that have campaigned on this over a very long period of time.”