Shrewsbury’s MP has held talks with prime minister David Cameron, vowing to fight ‘tooth and nail’ against plans to move children’s hospital services.
Daniel Kawczynski has also urged residents to lobby Shropshire Council, calling on it to demand a formal government inquiry into proposed changes to health provision in the county.
Mr Kawczynski took his fight to the steps of 10 Downing Street on Tuesday after declaring he would do ‘everything possible’ to oppose plans to concentrate consultant maternity and children’s services – among others – in Telford as proposed by the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust.
The MP also held high profile talks with secretary of state for health Andrew Lansley on Monday and after the meeting with David Cameron it was confirmed that if residents’ concerns are great enough the matter could be called in by government.
Mr Kawczynski has now asked Shrewsbury residents, who have flooded his constituency office with hundreds of letters and calls, to put pressure on Shropshire Council to formally refer the issue to government.
He has written to the council and as part of the campaign is also teaming up with Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies.
He said: “It’s totally unacceptable for Shrewsbury to lose paediatric services to Telford and I am going to do everything possible to make sure this doesn’t happen.
“I have briefed the PM but basically I have been told that if the people of Shrewsbury want to retain these services they have to convince Shropshire Council to refer it formally to the secretary of state who would then decide whether to launch a formal inquiry.
“I am urging my constituents to let the council know as soon as possible their objections to these proposals because this is the most important town in Shropshire and together we are going to fight this tooth and nail.
“I have put the prime minister on notice that I am not prepared to have this happen. I feel it was a vital step this week and I will continue to raise it with him until we have definite assurances.”
As part of the ongoing battle, Mr Kawczynski will also take a number of leading campaigners to Westminster for government minister Mr Lansley to hear their concerns first hand.
Shropshire Council was unavailable to comment at the time the Chronicle went to press.
By David Seadon