Concerns about emergency health care during the Tour De France have been revealed by health chiefs.
Managers have said they are worried about ambulances accessing patients as more than 150,000 people are expected to flock to the streets of Huddersfield to watch the race on July 6.
And with 50,000 alone expected to ascend Holme Moss, health chiefs are planning for the unexpected.
Many patients are expected to be taken to hospitals away from Huddersfield and Halifax as both towns host the Tour.
A report to Greater Huddersfield Clinical Commissioning Group said a major impact of the race ”effectively cutting the area in two” was access to time critical care.
It said routes for blue light services from Calderdale Royal Hospital to the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary were being worked on.
Pat Andrewartha, programme manager for the CCG, said: “The problem will be access to care as many roads will be closed from 6.30am until late afternoon.
“There’s going to be increased demand for care in terms of visitors but we don’t know how much.
“Communication systems will collapse, we know that, because of demand, so we need to plan for that.”
Health workers will be asked to do a long shift on the day of the race to avoid problems with handovers and there are plans to divert care normally given in Huddersfield to other sites, including Dewsbury and Barnsley.
Emergency Access Points will be created along the race route for 999 crews and emergency responders, but officials fear they may become blocked up by overcrowding.
Health chiefs are also working on plan for a temporary base at Flint Street in Fartown.
Calderdale Council last week revealed a list of more than 120 roads that will be closed for many hours on July 6.
Kirklees Council is preparing a similar list which is likely to be unveiled later this week.
There are serious concerns about access to many roads and streets as the world’s biggest cycling event hits the area.
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