Liberal Democrats reject proposals to close surgical, gynaecology, children's and maternity services at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

4.56.54pm GMT Thu 10th Nov 2005

Kirklees Lib Dems campaigning to keep Huddersfield Royal Infirmary open.

Liberal Democrat Councillors Shahida Awan, (Crosland Moor and Netherton ward), and Linda Wilkinson (Almondbury ward) are proposing to the Council that they reject the plans to move the surgical, gynaecology, children's and maternity wards services from Huddersfield Royal Infirmary to Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax.

Councillor Awan says "I am very concerned that parents of very sick children will have to be transferred between Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Calderdale Royal Infirmary. This will be very upsetting for them and their families. When your child is sick you have enough to worry about without having to worry about the horror of driving miles or trying to catch a bus with a very ill child. If your child is admitted to hospital then parents and families will have to travel every day to visit their child. This will be very stressful on the parents and other children in the family. I think that families will really struggle."

Councillor Wilkinson says "I am particularly concerned about women who are pregnant and their families who will have to travel to Calderdale Royal Infirmary to give birth. Mothers-to-be will have to worry about the extra distance and they will have to travel at a time when they need to be relaxed and clam. It is not good enough to expect them to undertake this journey particularly if they are reliant on public transport. "

"People in Huddersfield should be able to have locally based hospital services of the highest standard near where they live not miles away. It is unreasonable to ask local people requiring hospital treatment to have to travel to Halifax to receive it" says Councillor Awan. "It is also unreasonable to ask the friends and families of local people requiring hospital treatment to travel to Halifax and bear the additional costs of travelling to Halifax."

Councillor Wilkinson says "It is becoming increasingly clear to us that locally based services are being closed as a direct result of the governments "Payment by Results" policy. The whole basis of the health service is that it should be free at the point of need. It looks like we need to add and in a local hospital, close to home, not centralised to save money. The Government should provide proper funding to bring the services in Huddersfield up to the required standard. Huddersfield people should not be paying for the "white elephant" that is Calderdale Royal Hospital."

"we are asking fellow Councillors to support the retention of surgical, gynaecology, children's and maternity wards at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. We will ask the Councillors to write to the Chairs of the Primary Care Trusts and the Huddersfield NHS Trust informing them of the decision" says Councillor Awan.

"We want residents to make their voices heard and participate in consultation meetings and by writing to Freepost RLTG-HYAB-BHXZ, Calderdale PCT, F Mill, Dean Clough Office Park, HALIFAX HX3 5AX."