Plans for Dewsbury District Hospital announced

Aug 4 2009 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HEALTH bosses have announced radical plans for three hospitals.

But politicians in Dewsbury clashed yesterday over the proposals from Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

The town’s MP insisted that maternity and accident and emergency (A&E) are safe, while a councillor said these services are at risk.

The trust announced its plans for Dewsbury District Hospital, Pontefract General Infirmary and Pinderfields General Hospital in Wakefield yesterday.

Dewsbury would retain its consultant-led maternity services and non-emergency orthopaedic surgery. The hospital would also have a new service for bowel cancer surgery.

Each of the three hospitals would also retain their A&E.

NHS Kirklees chief executive Mike Potts said yesterday that the plans would allow most people to be treated locally.

He said: “The vast majority of patients will continue to receive their care at their nearest hospital or in their local community.”

Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik welcomed the plan yesterday.

The Labour man said: “The main issues have been around maternity and A&E. They’re not going anywhere, they’re safe.