Health chiefs in Huddersfield and Calderdale have unanimously voted to put a plan, which could lead to the closure of the town’s A&E, to a public consultation.

Around 100 protesters gathered outside Briar Court Hotel, where a public meeting was held, to urge health chief's to save Huddersfield's A&E department at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

But what happens next? Examiner health reporter Dave Himelfield explains.

The Right Care Right Time Place proposal is expected to be the subject of a public consultation which will last at least 12 weeks.

Once the full plan is revealed, the public will have 12 weeks to lodge their comments and questions with Greater Huddersfield and Calderdale Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), the local NHS organisations behind the plan.

The CCGs may decide to extend the length of the consultation if there is a high volume of responses.

Watch: Olivia Townsend, Golcar, says she wouldn't be here if it weren't for the A&E at HRI

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It is expected that the consultation will begin next month.

Officials of the CCGs have stressed no final decisions have been made about the way in which our hospitals will work.

The consultation documents now to be drawn up will explain why the CCGs believe change is necessary, and describe the way in which the CCGs believe they can ensure the best opportunity to secure hospital services for Huddersfield and Halifax into the future.

They said they would seek public views about the proposals and test out whether there are other ideas which the CCGs have not considered.

The consultation process will include both Kirklees and Calderdale Councils and final decisions are expected in the Autumn.

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