Huddersfield health chiefs have admitted they are “worried” about a funding shake up which could slash £21m from their budget.

An ‘Allocations Review’ by NHS England could change the way health bosses calculate which areas of the country get the most money.

Previously cash was dished out based on ‘health inequalities’, but the new plan may see it calculated based on age.

If it is implemented Huddersfield, Calderdale and North Kirklees will all be left with multi-million pound holes in their budgets.

A report by NHS England shows the move would strip a massive £0.75bn from the north, while the south would gain £283m.

The Huddersfield area budget would be cut from £269m to roughly £248m.

Officials at NHS Greater Huddersfield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have said the proposal could have a “significant” impact on services.

Carol McKenna, chief officer of NHS Greater Huddersfield CCG, said: “Clearly, the proposals as they stand are worrying and we, like many other CCGs in a similar position, are in constructive discussions with NHS England about the Allocations Policy.

“We are keen to make sure local people are not significantly disadvantaged by a shift in funding.”

The report shows no region in Yorkshire would benefit from the formula change.

West Yorkshire would be hit to the tune of £210m with Calderdale and North Kirklees CCGs both losing around £25m from their annual budgets.

A spokesman for the British Medical Association (BMA), which represents 150,000 doctors, also criticised the cuts.

He said: “The Government must ensure that the allocation of NHS resources is fair and ensures patients receive high quality care from their local health service.

“The NHS is under intense pressure from rising levels of patient demand, especially from an ageing society and a population with increasingly complex, long term conditions.

“Recent imposed Government changes to the GP contract have further exacerbated these problems in general practice.

“An average GP surgery will see cuts in their budgets and an increase in box ticking administration that will consume valuable time that should be spent treating patients.

“Additional reductions in funding will further undermine already overstretched services.”

The proposal to change funding allocations comes just six months into the CCGs’ tenure.

A decision on whether or not the proposed changes will be implemented is likely to be made in December.

Greater Huddersfield CCG, which operates non-acute services such as GPs, health centres, dentists and opticians, currently looks after 278,000 patients in Huddersfield, the Holme and Colne Valleys and the Denby Dale area.

It took over from NHS Kirklees Primary Care Trust last April amid a 1.4bn shake up of the health budget.