THE team deciding whether full maternity services will stay in Huddersfield have arrived in town.
The Independent Reconfiguration Panel came to Huddersfield yesterday.
The review group has been sent in by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt, who ordered a review of Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust's decision to move consultant maternity care to Halifax.
The move would leave Huddersfield Royal Infirmary with only a midwife-led unit.
Mothers in labour emergencies would need to be transferred up the traffic-clogged Elland bypass.
The panel is made up of hospital chiefs, consultants, university tutors and retired clergy.
Members met councillors and patient group representatives, who offered new evidence and views about why Huddersfield should keep full maternity services.
On Tuesday they will be speaking to more people, including Examiner editor Roy Wright, who will be putting the views of readers to the panel.
Along with three local MPs he travelled to Westminster in May to see Ms Hewitt and demand a review.
He also handed over 7,000 letters of protest from Examiner readers.
