Dr Steve Ollerton, Clinical Chair of NHS Greater Huddersfield Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “The proposed changes are all about providing safer, better, clinical services appropriate for modern health care.
“Under the proposed changes, there would be significant investment in our hospitals and more services provided from GP surgeries and health centres.”
Dr Alan Brook, his counterpart at the NHS Calderdale Clinical Commissioning Group, added: “We believe that the proposed changes, developed by senior doctors and nurses, will make the best use of available resources and will help us to deliver safe, high quality services in our hospitals and in our communities for years to come.”
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The public consultation starts today, Tuesday, March 15, on proposed changes to hospital services and further improvements to community services in Calderdale and Greater Huddersfield.
The Right Care, Right Time, Right Place consultation is being led by NHS Calderdale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Greater Huddersfield CCG and supported by Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust. The consultation will run until midnight on Tuesday, June 21.
A series of drop-in information sessions will be taking place where members of the public, patients and anyone with an interest in the proposed changes can talk to doctors, nurses and NHS managers, ask questions and give their views.
Two public meetings will be held, where a formal presentation will be delivered and there will be an opportunity to ask questions about the proposed changes.
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The consultation document called ‘Have your say – public consultation on proposed future arrangements for hospital and community health services’ sets out proposals for:
Two Urgent Care Centres – one at Calderdale Royal Hospital and one at the Acre Mills site, Huddersfield - for people with urgent but non-life threatening needs such as sprains, strains, broken bones, infections that may need treatment, minor burns and scalds, or a condition that would normally be treated at a GP Practice but the practice is closed, or the patient can’t get an appointment as early as they liked
An Emergency Centre at Calderdale Royal Hospital for patients with life threatening injuries or illnesses such as loss of consciousness, severe chest pain or severe bleeding
Here's what's been happening since the announcement at the start of the year:
Time Line
Hands Off HRI: A timeline
January 20
Health chiefs judge that the Right Care Right Time Right Place plan is ready for public consultation. Hundreds of angry protestors attend the meeting at Briar Court.
January 23
#HandsOffHRI campaigners hold their first rally in St George’s Square.
January 29
The hospital shake-up plan consultation is pencilled for February 8 – but it’s later delayed until March 15.
February 23
During a debate in Parliament, MPs Jason McCartney, Barry Sheerman and others slam the Calderdale Royal Hospital PFI deal which is choking Huddersfield and Calderdale’s hospital trust. Huddersfield NHS managers also receive a panning by Mr Sheerman.
February 5
Kirklees and Calderdale councillors are given EIGHT HOURS to ‘scrutinise’ a public consultation document.
February 11
The public consultation is delayed until the end of February.
February 17
A draft of the public consultation document ‘Have Your Say’ is released with further details of which services HRI and CRH will provide. It is the first time the public sees a questionnaire they will be invited to complete.
February 21
The Examiner reveals that HRI and CRH have been declaring ‘black alerts’. This is the most serious alert a hospital can declare which means it can take no more patients.
February 23
Scrutiny councillors on Kirklees and Calderdale councils say they are ‘powerless’ to stop the consultation, despite pleas from protestors.
February 25
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt writes to Barry Sheerman and Jason McCartney agreeing to meet them to discuss Right Care Right Time Right Place.
February 27
Thousands attend a march and rally in Huddersfield town centre. It is the biggest Huddersfield rally in a generation.
March 9
Hospital bosses reveal that Right Care Right Time Right Place will still leave the trust with recurring deficits of £9.5m per year. Monitor says this is ‘unsustainable in the long run’.
March 9
Local NHS chiefs announce public consultation events, including a formal presentation at the John Smith’s Stadium, in April.
March 11
The Examiner announces plans for its Save Huddersfield A&E Battle Bus to mark the start of the consultation
March 15
Public consultation begins — make your voice heard!
A Paediatric Emergency Centre at Calderdale Royal Hospital, which for the first time, would bring together all medical and surgical services for children onto one site
A new purpose-built hospital for routine procedures and operations that don’t need to be done as an emergency on the Acre Mills site at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, with 120 beds and 10 operating theatres
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Consultant-led maternity services would continue to be provided at Calderdale Royal Hospital, and there would be two Midwife-Led Units - one at Calderdale Royal Hospital and one at Acre Mills, Huddersfield and more focus on strengthening community based services.
More services would be provided from GP surgeries and health centres, including some services which have previously been provided in hospital including routine outpatient appointments and diagnostic tests.
The consultation document, summary and survey are available at www.rightcaretimeplace.co.uk or by calling 01484 464212 or texting 07771 334724.
Copies of the consultation materials will also be available in GP practices, hospitals, pharmacies and libraries.
