A SPECIAL service to celebrate a Huddersfield hospital set for closure is to be held next month.

The service at St Luke’s Hospital will honour staff and the excellent work that has been done over the years at the Crosland Moor site.

It is hoped that the special event, which also forms part of the St Luke’s Day and 60th anniversary of the NHS celebrations, will be attended by many past and present patients, staff and volunteers of the hospital.

It takes place on Thursday October 16 at 2pm and will be led by the hospital’s chaplain, rev Di Ellerton.

Rev Ellerton said: “We hope that many of our current and former patients and staff will attend the service.

“St Luke’s Hospital has played a vital role in the lives and memories of thousands of people over many years.

“It is appropriate that we give our thanks and celebrate the enormous contribution that the hospital has made to our community, before it finally closes.”

Following the service, light refreshments will be served on ward 7 at the hospital.

A spokeswomen for the Trust said: “It’s not a closing down service, it’s a celebration of the work of the hospital and its staff as well as being part of the St Luke’s Day and 60th anniversary of the NHS celebrations.

“We’re hoping for a good turnout.

“We’re hoping to attract interest from people who may have used the services either as a patient or carer or any staff that are now working elsewhere as well as members of the public.”

The wheels are already in motion to shut down the site, with continued consultation with staff, patients and the public.

The Castle Hill Unit, which provides care for mentally-ill patients in secure wards, has already been moved to the Field Head Hospital in Wakefield.

But other services are not expected to follow for at least 18 months, with several outpatients services remaining in the hospital.

It could be a further two years before the huge site off Blackmoorfoot Road, which has provided health care for the past century, is available for development.

Services still at St Luke’s are outpatient services run by the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust’s services.

They are the Barton Rehabilitation Unit, the renal dialysis centre, neurology outpatients, physiotherapy (locality based for Crosland Moor), wheelchair services and transport.

The Trust’s spokeswoman added that the dates for the removal of these services are still yet to be finalised.