What’s your opinion?
The closure of Calderdale Royal Hospital’s A&E department has neither been ruled-in or ruled-out by health minister Jane Ellison. What are your views on this issue?
PAUL ROGAN, UKIP, CALDER VALLEY
The NHS is too precious to be used as a political football. The fact is both main parties have failed the NHS and both have increased privatisation.
I would support recommendations from health professionals tasked to provide the best possible care for all, free at the point of need and delivery.
ALISDAIR MCGREGOR, LIBERAL DEMOCRAT, CALDER VALLEY
Calderdale Royal Hospital must remain open to provide an acceptable standard of services to Calder Valley.
The biggest threat to its continued existence is the ruinous PFI deal it was saddled with, which will eventually cost £774 million for a building worth only £64 million.
The PFI deal needs to be bought out by either the government or the council and form part of the ongoing fiscal consolidation of debt that is rescuing our country from economic catastrophe.
JENNY SHEPHERD, GREEN PARTY, CALDER VALLEY
The recommendation to close Halifax A&E is all about money, not about clinical benefits.
If the next government enacts the 2015 NHS Reinstatement Bill, that will end and reverse NHS marketisation and privatisation, the savings will fill the £20 billion NHS funding shortfall that’s pro- jected for 2020 - this would remove the financial pressure to close our A&E
CRAIG WHITTAKER, CONSERVATIVE, CALDER VALLEY
It is not the Minister nor Government who take these decisions - it is our local doctors who commission these services.
Despite the constant scaremongering from the opposition and the Halifax Courier, there are no plans to close Calderdale A&E.
For any person who doubts this, read the doctors’ own proposals ‘Right Care, Right Time, Right Place’ where there are no proposals to close the A&E.
JOSH FENTON-GLYNN, LABOUR, CALDER VALLEY
I have been fighting to save our A&E since the threat was first raised. I walked from Todmorden to Huddersfield to raise awareness. In recent weeks we have seen statistics showing that the trust failed to hit its waiting times targets for the whole of last year.
No one can seriously contend there is a clinical case for downgrading our hospital. As your MP I will fight for our A&E.
Labour are committed to funding 36,000 more front line staff.
JOE STEAD, WORLD PEACE THROUGH SONG, CALDER VALLEY
A subject very close to my heart and something mentioned within my manifesto. All efforts must be made to prevent closure from happening. It will certainly cost lives, especially to people living in the western outlaying areas like Hebden Bridge and Todmorden.
One of the big problems with the present government is the continual privatisation of industries. If the Halifax A&E had been closed ten years ago, my wife would not be alive today.
HOLLY LYNCH, LABOUR, HALIFAX
The uncertainty surrounding the future of Halifax A&E in particular is causing concern for people of all ages, right across Halifax and beyond.
The fight to keep Calderdale Royal and all its departments open will be my utmost priority as the MP for Halifax.
I was born in what was then Halifax General and raised money for the children’s ward in Halifax growing up, having been a patient there. Calderdale Royal is centrally located in Halifax to serve the Calderdale area - I will fight tooth and nail to keep it that way.
PHILIP ALLOTT, CONSERVATIVE, HALIFAX
The key to the future of the Calderdale Royal Hospital is how to overcome the financial problems left behind in the wake of the last Labour Government.
A strong NHS and good services at the hospital can only be achieved on the back of a strong economy which our long-term economic plan is delivering, allowing a record amount to be spent on NHS funding.
I will continue my campaign to protect Calderdale Royal Hospital and will work with all parties. I will also use my extensive business experience to help the Trust restructure the initial construction ,debt, to ensure the hospitals long term security.