This follows formal confirmation of the approval, subject to a number of conditions, of a Strategic Outline Case (SOC) of the Hospitals Transformation Programme by the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England’s Joint Investment Committee at the end of August 2022.

The plans will see the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford specialise in planned care and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital specialise in emergency care.

Leader of the council, Shaun Davies (Labour) said: “I will be reading between the lines of the Strategic Outline Case to look for what it doesn’t say, as much as what it does, and I suggest others do the same.

“The reality for people in Telford and Wrekin is that these plans will see the Princess Royal lose its 24 hour A&E and emergency care for mothers and children in a specialist unit that was built just 8 years ago.

“Our current A&E will be turned from a supermarket to a corner shop, an “A&E Local”, a first for the country and a model that medical experts have openly criticised.

“As the largest town in England with a population which is ageing and one of the fastest growing in the country, this does not make sense. In fact, Telford and Wrekin’s population is growing twice as fast as Shropshire’s.

“Let’s also not forget that two in three of the 18,742 people who officially responded to public consultation on Future Fit plans disagreed with moving emergency care to Shrewsbury.

“The original plans submitted for approval amounted to some £500 million and with the Government agreeing to fund £312 million, what other services will be scaled back to close the gap?

“Telford & Wrekin Council will unapologetically continue to fight against plans that are not right for people in our borough.

“We will refer the plans to the new Prime Minister and Health Secretary and invite our MPs to work with us to secure the investment we need to get the best possible health and social care for people across Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire.