Author and veteran NHS campaigner Harry Leslie Smith is set to back the ‘Hands Off HRI’ campaign.

The 93-year-old, who writes for the Guardian and has spoken at the Labour Party Conference, will host a talk in Honley next week.

It will come just three weeks before of the end of the consultation on the shake up to hospitals in Huddersfield and Calderdale.

James O’Flynn, secretary of the Colne Valley Labour Party branch, said: “Harry L Smith has been booked to speak to our local Constituency Labour Party meeting since last year but because of the public outcry about the threat to HRI and local health services, as well as the massive community campaign that has sprung up, we thought it was right to open this event to the public.

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“We are aware that Hands Off HRI is a cross party campaign to save both hospitals, and as a party we are keen to support that, so we have deliberately delayed promoting this event until after the local elections.

“We are hoping that people come along to hear about Harry’s amazing life and be inspired about the campaigning to save the NHS that is going on across the country.

“Harry was born in Barnsley in 1923 before the National Heath Service came into existence.

“Unlike most of us Harry remembers the agony of a Britain where medical care was only for those who could afford it, tragically losing his elder sister to Tuberculosis because the family could not afford the doctor’s bills.

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“Since retiring he has written several books remembering the impact of the Great Depression, World War II and the post war austerity from which the Attlee Government gave Britain the NHS we all know and love today.

“Harry has been a tireless campaigner for the NHS , not least giving a speech at the 2014 Labour Party conference which brought many in the hall to tears.

“After Harry’s talk we are looking forward to holding a panel discussion on local health issues.”

The event will be at Honley Socialist Club from 7.30pm on Tuesday, May 24.

It is free to attend, however places are limited and need to be booked online via http://labourclp227.nationbuilder.com/save_our_nhs

There will also be an opportunity to buy one of Harry’s books and #HandsoffHRI merchandise.