Mass protest on HRI plans

the next 10 years in Huddersfield.

Another major worry for opponents of the plans is the additional time it will take for Huddersfield area A&E patients to be transferred to Halifax, given the major delays on the A629.

In a letter to local MPs and councillors, Hands Off HRI secretary, Cristina George, and chairman, Mike Forster, said: “All emergency patient care will be transferred to Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax.

“This proposal is actually WORSE than their original plan. They have totally ignored local public opinion and have cynically and blatantly dismissed local councillors’ concerns.

“The Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) stand condemned as the unaccountable body which will be responsible for future patient deaths.

“We remain very concerned that opening up the rebuilding work to a private provider could see hostile bids from private companies which could take over the entire establishment as has happened in other parts of the country.”

The campaigners want the committee to reject these proposals and refer the case to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt for independent review.

A spokesman for Hands Off HRI said: “This is the most important meeting for our campaign for a few months. We have to impress upon every councillor that they now have a duty to reject the CCG proposal. Lives will be lost if they go ahead and the protest will serve to make councillors and the CCG aware of the depth of feeling in the town.”

The Examiner has approached the GP-led CCG, which is responsible for the planning and buying of local health care services, but none has been forthcoming.