Love is in the air at Huddersfield A&E

Mr Deitch and his supporters have vowed to keep the campaign local, saying they want to keep politics out of it and focus solely on HRI.

Dr Jackie Grunsell, a GP and former Kirklees councillor, has joined the splinter group.

She said she was glad both groups had still stood side-by-side to show their love for Huddersfield’s NHS staff.

“We’re fighting for the same thing,” she said.

“We think it’s brilliant that we can all get together here and I hope that continues as much as possible.

“On certain issues we’re going to diverge, but on the whole when it comes to this hospital we all agree.

“We’ve just got slightly different strategies that we’re pursuing.”

She added: “Our people see it as a wider issue and want to link up with other groups.

“But that doesn’t detract at all from campaigning to save this hospital.

“We think that’s the most important thing.

“If we were to win this campaign it would give confidence to groups around the country to do the same thing.

“We see it as extremely important to win this fight.

“We did feel a bit hamstrung and strait-jacketed in the situation as it was before and now we feel able to campaign in the way we think we need to in order for us to win.”