Campaign to save Huddersfield A&E

A campaign has been launched to try to save the Accident and Emergency Unit at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

The department's future is in doubt with new plans being considered by the trust which runs hospitals in Huddersfield and Halifax.

It wants just one A and E department, which would be at Halifax not Huddersfield.

Campaigners say the extra journey time to get there may cost lives.

The plan to have just one A and E at Calderdale Royal Hospital has emerged after months of speculation.

It will mean Huddersfield Royal Infirmary losing its A and E department, although there are plans to build a new hospital just across the road from the current one.

Health officials though say both Huddersfield and Halifax would have what it calls "urgent care centres."

One MP opposed to the plans claims A and E is being centered in Halifax because of the rising cost of financing the building of Calderdale Royal Hospital under under a private finance initiative or PFI.

MPs from the Calder Valley though says the plans will be welcomed by many in their areas.

It's expected the plans will now go out to public consultation and a final decision reached possibly by the end of the year.