Lib Dem MP welcomes £21 million boost for Shropshire emergency care

MP Helen Morgan has welcomed the news that local hospitals will be getting cash to reduce Shropshire’s “catastrophic” A&E waiting times which are the worst in England.

The North Shropshire MP, who has campaigned to improve emergency care in the county since her election, said investment from the Government was long overdue

Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin NHS ICB will be receiving £21.4 million of the new emergency care fund to combat delays which are the worst in England at A&E.

The funding is part of the Urgent and Emergency Care Recovery plan published in January, aimed at tackling waiting times by creating create new beds in urgent and emergency care services – with Shropshire getting 52 extra beds.

Helen Morgan has welcomed this news, with A&E wait times and issues at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital being a major focus of her work since beating the Conservatives in the December 2021 by-election.

Helen Morgan MP said, “Shropshire’s catastrophic A&E waiting times are the worst in the country and investment from the Government to begin improving the service is long overdue.

“We’ve been campaigning hard to raise this issue in Parliament since day one, and fighting hard to get Shropshire’s NHS the support it needs to properly function. The new emergency care plan is a welcome start - even if it is months or years later than it should have been.

“I’ll be working hard to monitor progress and keep pushing to save our NHS and get Shropshire residents the high-quality service they deserve.”