EXPANDED doctors’ surgeries could threaten a town’s hospital, says Kirklees’s top politician.
Council leader Clr Robert Light is worried at Government plans to create polyclinics, which would combine GP and outpatient services.
He said: “I believe the creation of polyclinics in north Kirklees would mean the dramatic down-scaling of services provided by Dewsbury District Hospital.
“Also, in the light of other pressures in the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, it could result in the hospital’s closure.’’
Clr Light added: “The Government seems determined to continually undermine district hospitals, threatening them with ward closures, as well as maternity and casualty unit closures.”
A review of the NHS by Health Minister Lord Ara Darzi, a practising surgeon, began in the summer.
The final report is not due until next year, but an interim one last week included plans for 150 polyclinics across the country.
Clr Light criticised the Government’s handling of the review.
The Conservative said: “By making Lord Darzi’s findings public so soon the Government is using the NHS as a political football.
“This is a rushed report, making recommendations without having properly gathered the evidence required to make them.
“It is clear the polyclinics they propose will have dire consequences for district hospitals – and the services they provide – throughout the country.”
