A SHROPSHIRE hospital's transformation is a step closer as the county's hospital trust appoints its design and construction partner.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust's transformation programme will see the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford specialising in planned care, meaning health services and treatments that are needed following a referral from a health professional, with the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital specialising in emergency care.

A trust spokesperson said that the programme will mean that Ludlow locals as well as the people throughout Shropshire, Telford, Wrekin and mid Wales will benefit from a higher quality of care and fewer delays for treatment at the two sites.

Integrated Health Projects has been appointed to support the trust as it goes forward with the plans, with preparatory works expected to start at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital this month.

After the project is completed, planned care services in Telford will be available throughout the year leading to fewer cancellations and delays for operations, improved emergency care services delivered from a new, purpose-built emergency department in Shrewsbury and urgent care services will be available at all hours on both hospitals.

Dr Ed Rysdale, consultant in emergency medicine and clinical lead for the transformation programme said: “I’m excited that we are moving ever closer to delivering our vision of two thriving hospital sites.

“This is so much more than building works, this is about fundamentally improving care for all the communities we serve through better pathways and joined-up care between our services.”