MASSIVE changes to hospital surgical services begin this weekend.

Months of planning have gone into plans to revamp surgery across the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust’s area.

From next week patients from Huddersfield and Halifax needing emergency operations will be treated at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

The move will see HRI become a centre for planned complex surgery and emergency paediatric surgery for the people of Huddersfield and Halifax.

The Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax will carry out all planned inpatient orthopaedic and general surgery, including hip replacements.

But day surgery procedures will continue at both hospitals.

Consultant surgeon David Wise, head of the trust’s surgical division, said: “The Royal Infirmary will become a centre of excellence for emergency and complex surgery.

“This move allows us to concentrate our skill and expertise on one site and will lead to better outcomes for the people who need this specialist service.

“We are also planning to recruit an extra orthopaedic surgeon and some extra anaesthetists to strengthen services.

“This will further complement our existing team of skilled surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses. These changes will help to secure high-quality localservices.’’

The changes are the second stage of plans to modernise health services following a major consultation last year.

In March this year a dedicated women’s unit was opened at CRH for breast and gynaecology patients needing at least one night’s stay.

Specialist units for urology at HRI and head and neck at CRH have also being set-up.

Other future changes include a new midwife-led birth centre at HRI, expected to be open later this year.

Services from St Luke’s Hospital at Crosland Moor are also being moved to other centres, including community settings.

But the plans will not affect the 400,000 people a year who have outpatient appointments at both hospitals.

Two accident and emergency departments will also continue to run at both hospitals.

Further information, including bus timetables, will be available on stands in both main hospital entrances, on the trust website www.cht.nhs.uk or by contacting Pals (Patient Advice Liaison Service) at HRI on 01484 342128.

Meanwhile, a recent survey said the Royal Infirmary has one of the best records in the country for treating trauma patients.

The study of 80 hospitals was carried out by the Trauma Audit and Research Network.

It said HRI had one of the best survival rates among seriously injured patients, including road traffic victims.