Councillors have expressed frustration over delays to a healthcare shake-up plan, warning that further waits will cause instability to local NHS services.
Kirklees and Calderdale councillors have urged local NHS bosses to get the delayed ‘Right Care Right Time Right Place’ plan ready as soon as possible.
The plan, which was due to be published last month, is now expected to be released early next year.
Health scrutiny panel member Robert Barraclough warned health chiefs: “It is going on two years and it doesn’t seem to have got much further.
“I know it’s very difficult but I want to send the message: ‘Come on, guys – you need to get this nailed down.”
The Right Care Right Time Right Place, which could see the closure of an A&E unit at either Huddersfield Royal Infirmary or Calderdale Royal Hospital, aims to move health services from hospitals into clinics and other community organisations.
At a scrutiny panel meeting, Kirklees and Calderdale councillors expressed frustration over how long the plan was taking.
Panel chair and Birstall councillor, Liz Smaje, said: “People need to see what you are proposing. The longer the vacuum exists the more difficult it is for people. Having timelines that shift is not helpful.”
Calderdale councillor Malcolm James added: “The longer this goes on the greater the instability will be.”
Right Care Right Time Right Place was due to go to a public consultation last month.
But it was postponed after Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust (CHFT), which manages Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Calderdale Royal Hospital, failed to produce a proposal proving it was financially sustainable.
The trust, which is forecast to end 2015/16 in deficit, is currently working with NHS watchdog Monitor to devise a five-year sustainability plan.
However, at the meeting Monitor regional director Paul Chandler praised CHFT for its progress.
Mr Chandler said: “The trust continues to make good progress.
“They are over-delivering on their cost improvement plan while maintaining a high level of patient service and safety and we have no issues with those at the moment.”
