A WOULD-BE MP has promised patients his party will keep A &E and maternity services in Huddersfield and Dewsbury.
Kevin Hollinrake is the prospective Conservative candidate for the Dewsbury seat, which includes Mirfield, Kirkburton and Denby Dale.
He met party leader David Cameron last week to discuss health.
Mr Hollinrake said: “Under a Conservative government there would be a moratorium on any closures of A&Es and maternity units.
“This must be a great comfort to patients, doctors and nurses who would have been disadvantaged by potential closures.”
Mr Hollinrake said half of Yorkshire’s A&E departments could be under threat.
He added: “Although no definite plans have been confirmed a recent report suggested A&Es should serve at least 450,000 people.
“If implemented it would mean that Yorkshire and Humberside would have only 11 A&E departments, rather than the current figure of 21.
“This could mean the A&Es in Dewsbury District Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary being threatened with closure.”
Mr Hollinrake said health service cuts were being driven by financial rather than medical concerns.
He said: “There is no clinical evidence that would justify shutting A&Es simply because they don’t serve a catchment population of more than 450,000. Yet Whitehall bureaucrats are seeking to justify closures on these grounds.
“These latest Labour cuts must be resisted.”
