‘Tragic mistake’ to close one of our A&E departments as government minister talks of “co-locate acute services” plan

Speculation over the merger of casualty units in Huddersfield and Calderdale has intensified following a comment by a Government minister.

Public health minister Jane Ellison yesterday said the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS hospital trust was looking to “co-locate” some of its services.

A definition of co-locate is to share a facility. The revelation came from Halifax MP Linda Riordan.

She called for clarity to resolve the “upset, anguish and anger” among her constituents.

The Examiner has previously reported fears that Calderdale Royal Hospital’s A&E could be put at risk in favour of moving services to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

In a House of Commons debate yesterday, Mrs Riordan said closing the department would be “disastrous” for Calderdale residents. The Labour MP said: “I want our excellent A&E department saved not sacrificed.

“The reaction of local residents has been an overwhelming “hands off” our A&E.

“To close or cut back the A&E would be a tragic mistake of short-term thinking.”

Jane Ellison, public health minister, responded to Mrs Riordan’s comments and said: “The Trust has, I believe, identified a need to co-locate acute services to maximise the potential of its workforce and ensure services are safe and deliver those best outcomes for patients.”

She stressed it was a “locally driven” process.

Craig Whittaker, Calder Valley Conservative, said he would “not accept closure of A&E” in Calderdale and was waiting for the outcome of the review.

The Examiner asked the hospital trust to comment but they sent us the same comment as released a month ago.

And Dr Matt Walsh, chief officer of GP-led NHS Calderdale CCG, said: “We are working closely with our partners across the health and social care system in Calderdale – including Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust – to carry out a comprehensive review of health and social care, which includes the provision of unplanned (emergency) care services.

“Key to this is working with and engaging health and social care staff, patients, other stakeholders and experts.”