Less than 2% of Huddersfield and Calderdale’s population responded to the official survey on a plan which could close Huddersfield’s A&E.
Just 7,584 surveys on the controversial Right Care Right Time Right Place plan were submitted.
Huddersfield and Calderdale has a combined population of just under 463,000 which means just 1.6% of the population responded to the survey.
The survey was a central pillar of a public consultation on the plan, the results of which are expected at the end of this month.
The response has been slammed by Jackie Brook, of campaign group Friends of Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Mike Forster of #HandsOffHRI.
Ms Brook said: “The CCG should have utilised their marketing budget and mailed every home with a survey and information on the drop-ins and invited the public to ask for further forms for family or lodgers so that there was no way that we could say it was an unfair consultation.”
Mr Forster said: "There was a lot of confusion around the consultation. People thought they could sign the petition without needing to fill in the survey."
But he added: "We are still pleased that more than 7,000 people filled in a very complicated survey form and we are very confident that the overwhelming majority will be opposed to the CCGs' plans."
Whether the proposal goes ahead should be announced on October 20 after a joint Kirklees and Calderdale health scrutiny committee decides if the process should continue – or if the plan should be referred to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt .
Under the Right Care Right Time Right Place proposal Huddersfield Royal Infirmary would be demolished and replaced with a smaller hospital. It will have an urgent care centre but no emergency care unit.
Emergency care will be centralised at an expanded Calderdale Royal Hospital , Halifax.
