DAY surgery and consultant appointments will continue to be held in Huddersfield, a hospital boss confirmed today.
Major changes to surgery, women's and children's services are some of the proposals being put forward by health chiefs as part of the biggest healthcare review for five years.
Under the plans, Huddersfield patients will have to travel to Calderdale Royal Hospital for all planned operations.
While patients needing emergency or complex surgery will be treated at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.
The shift has created a wave of angry protests from patients concerned about travelling the distance to Halifax.
Today consultant orthopaedic surgeon David Wise, divisional director for surgery and anaesthetics for Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust, said patients would only have to travel for planned surgery, not out-patient appointments.
He said: "There are no plans to alter day surgery or out-patient appointments.
"So if you are a Huddersfield patient you will see your consultant in Huddersfield.
"Clearly this is usually the bulk of patient interaction."
He believed the changes would benefit patients in the long-run.
He added: "With these proposals to separate elective surgery from emergency care we will be able to provide more specialised areas with expert staff for particular conditions.
"It means patients' recovery will not be disturbed by the emergency workload.
"It will reduce disruption to patients, there will be less elective surgery cancelled and it will also reduce infection rates.
"It will help us to provide a higher quality of care in the future."
The proposals are now part of a public consultation which ends on January 16, 2006.
To express your views about the changes write to: Looking to the Future, c/o Calderdale PCT, F Mill, Dean Clough, Halifax, HX3 5AX.
