Health chiefs have announced a third public meeting on a controversial hospital shake-up plan after hundreds were locked out of the previous meeting.
But the meeting on the Right Care Right Time Right Place proposal will be taking place at the same venue – with the same capacity for 535 people – and you’ll need a ticket to attend.
But after struggling to find a suitable location for the meeting the NHS organisations behind the shake-up plan have booked the venue again.
The meeting, on June 6 (6.30pm), will also be broadcast live on Facebook for people who are unable to get into the stadium.
Additional drop-in sessions have been arranged at Huddersfield RUFC, Lockwood Park, on June 9 and Meltham Sports and Community Centre, Mean Lane, on June 15. Both sessions run from 4pm to 7pm.
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A spokesperson for Greater Huddersfield and Calderdale CCGs (clinical commissioning groups), the local NHS organisations behind the proposal, said: “After consideration of a number of venues against criteria such as availability, health and safety and accessibility, John Smith’s Stadium has been selected as the venue for the public meeting.
“This is however, just one of many other opportunities for the public to learn more about the proposed changes.
“Residents can find out more and have a more detailed and one-to-one conversation with clinicians such as hospital consultants, GPs and nurses at drop-in information sessions. “17 sessions were arranged in total with to date, over 1,500 people attending.”
Natalie Ratcliffe, #HandsOffHRI secretary, said: “It’s a public event. It’s absurd that it is to be ticketed.
“We will still mobilise the same and I hope they are so inundated that they need another meeting.”
Helen Kingston, #HandsOffHRI media organiser, added: “Ticketing isn’t allowing for full public consultation; it’s first come, first served.
“We said we’d fill the stadium and they didn’t listen.
“We’ll all be there again – but more.
“This is a call to arms. The CCG must consult with us all.”
Tickets are free.
If you need help booking and/or have access needs call: 01484 464212 or email: rcrtrp.myview@nhs.net.
The meeting has disabled access and a British Sign Language interpreter can be arranged.
Under Right Care Right Time Right Place, Huddersfield Royal Infirmary will lose its A&E department while emergency care will be centralised in Halifax.