The Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) of Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council has written to health and social care secretary Wes Streeting about concerns over the performance of Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust (SaTH).

SaTH was the subject of a Channel 4 Dispatches programme in May 2024 that showed people waiting up to 48 hours in A&E.

Councillor Geoff Elner, joint chair of the JHOSC, said: ‘The work done by this committee over many years and most recently following the May 2024 CQC report and the C4 Dispatches Programme, have identified ongoing issues that must be addressed to deliver improved services and outcomes for patients.'

The letter noted the Dispatches programme raised issues the committee had been concerned about for the past decade and highlighted what appears to be a higher-than-expected number of excess deaths in the trust's urgent and emergency care departments.

It also highlighted concerns about the SaTH's maternity services. SaTH issued an apology after a neonatal review found examples of poor care in November 2024.

The committee said recent changes in leadership made this an opportune time for a review. Jo Williams was appointed as interim chief executive in September 2024.

Williams said: ‘We are committed to creating a trust where both our patients and staff feel proud - proud to receive care and proud to work.

Since our CQC inspection and the Dispatches programme, we have made steady progress, including reducing care on corridors, improving the timeliness of patient observations and expanding access to frailty services. While there is more to do, we welcome the committee's scrutiny and remain focused on building confidence in our ongoing improvements.'

A spokesperson from NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB, said: ‘We acknowledge the significant challenges facing our local health and care system and understand the concerns that have been raised. While there are many dedicated professionals working tirelessly across health and social care, we recognise that sustainable improvements require a coordinated effort from all partners.

‘We are committed to working collaboratively with NHS partners, local authorities, voluntary organisations, and other stakeholders to deliver meaningful and lasting improvements. Our focus is not only on our hospitals but also on strengthening care within our communities to ensure people can access the right services when they need them.'

This article first appeared on Healthcare Management.