More sick Huddersfield children are now being treated in Halifax’s hospital.
Children that require an overnight admission for non-surgical conditions will now go to Calderdale Royal Hospital.
Previously youngsters with medical conditions were routed or transferred to CRH at weekends only.
But Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust has now decided to roll out the policy seven-days-a-week.
The trust says children with health problems such as diabetes, epilepsy or chest infections – or any condition which could be treated with medicines or tablets – will be routed or transferred to CRH.
Youngsters that need surgical intervention or A&E will still be treated in Huddersfield.
A spokeswoman for the trust said: “From the week commencing June 15, children requiring an overnight stay for any such condition are transferred to the Childrens’ Medical ward at Calderdale Royal Hospital.
“This is a safer option for children, and is an extension of the arrangements which have been in place at weekends since services were reconfigured in 2007.
“The Childrens’ Medical ward at CRH has specialist medical paediatricians.
“Children requiring an overnight stay following surgery will continue to be accommodated on ward 18 at HRI, where, as a result of the change there will be an increased paediatrician presence.
“In summary, both medical and surgical paediatric patients will benefit from increased consultant presence which is a safer option for children.”
The division of specialities is the latest transfer of services out of town amid the trust’s wider ambition to create two distinct hospitals – one performing urgent and emergency care and another focussed on planned surgery and outpatients.
Consultant led maternity services moved across the M62 in 2008 leaving Huddersfield with a midwife led service.
Hospital chiefs are currently proposing to move HRI’s early pregnancy unit to Halifax.
