Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that the NHS Trust Development Authority collaborates with the NHS Future Fit process in Shropshire to make a decision regarding future emergency care for that county; and if he will take steps to ensure that population growth and the level of health inequality are taken into account in the process of making that decision.

The Government is clear the reconfiguration of front line health services is a matter for the local NHS. Services should be tailored to meet the needs of the local population, taking into account projected population growth and seeking to reduce health inequalities. Proposals for substantial service change must meet the four tests of reconfiguration which are (i) support from general practitioner commissioners (ii) strengthened public and patient engagement (iii) clarity on the clinical evidence base and (iv) support for patient choice.

It is right that reconfiguration is led by the local NHS, working closely with the support of national bodies including NHS England, the NHS Trust Development Authority and Monitor.