Newport MP Mark Pritchard has received the backing of a retired doctor and Hospital Consultant - whose life was saved by Princess Royal A&E staff - three times!
Dr George Kitchen, from Sambrook met with Mr Pritchard to give his support for the MP’s Save The PRH campaign.
The campaign has already attracted over 10,000 names on a Parliamentary Petition and a further 1,000 have joined a group on the social networking site Facebook.
Retired Consultant Radiotherapist Dr Kitchen said: “Over the last three years I have had to be admitted three times for emergency treatment at the PRH.
“The staff and treatment I received there literally saved my life.
“The Accident and Emergency unit is vital given the long distance to Shrewsbury.
“I am supporting Mark’s campaign to keep key services at the PRH.”
The MP said that hundreds of Newport people had signed his Parliamentary Petition, which he would be presented to Parliament soon.
Mr Pritchard added: “This a wide community campaign which has attracted people of all ages and from sorts of backgrounds and professions.
“I am glad that people are backing my fight to keep local hospital services at the PRH”.
Meanwhile, Mr Pritchard has also expressed his concerns about plans by West Midlands Ambulance Service to apply to the Department of Health for Foundation Status sometime in 2010.
The MP says that since Shropshire Ambulance Service merged with the West Midlands far too many ambulances were now serving Birmingham’s needs rather than Shropshire’s.
He said: “Unless health bosses change their minds local residents and patients could be hit with the ‘double whammy’ of fewer ambulances available within the county.
“While at the same time A&E services being moved miles away to Shrewsbury. This will cost lives”.
The MP has set out his concerns in a “strong letter” to the Chief Executive of the West Midlands Ambulance Trust, Anthony Marsh.
The MP is also due to raise the issue in the House of Commons.
Anyone wishing to sign Mr Pritchard’s petition can do so online at www.savetheprh.com.
By Sean Wozencroft
