Authors of a controversial hospital shake-up plan have given their reaction to a public meeting at which they were repeatedly jeered and heckled.
Dr Steve Ollerton, one of the key figures behind the Right Care Right Time Right Place plan, said the meeting improved when a large group of people walked out.
The Skelmanthorpe GP said that although there were many individuals who did not want to listen, Monday’s meeting was ‘slightly better’ than a previous meeting at the John Smith’s Stadium, in April.
Dr Ollerton, who is the clinical director of Greater Huddersfield CCG (clinical commissioning group), said: “I thought the meeting was slightly better than the last one and I thought particularly when the 100 or so had walked out, we were left with people who wanted to listen and the remaining half an hour was more constructive.”
But he added: “They are still a lot of people who don’t particularly want to listen and are just unhappy.
WATCH: Protestors walk out of public consultation event at John Smith's Stadium
“We’re not asking them to be happy about it – we’re asking them to understand it.”
Holmfirth GP and CCG board member Dr David Hughes said the behaviour of some of the audience made it difficult to get the CCG’s message across.
Dr Hughes said: “The behaviour of the audience made it difficult to get a sensible message across.
“That’s not necessarily everybody in the audience. They were actually quite a few people I spoke to at the end who, whether they agreed or disagreed, actually could have a perfectly sensible conversation.”
Watch audience jeer CCG panel at meeting
Under the Right Care Right Time Right Place (RCRTRP) plan, Huddersfield Royal Infirmary (HRI) will be demolished and replaced with a new hospital, which will have an urgent care centre but crucially, no emergency department.
Emergency care will be centralised at an enhanced Calderdale Royal Hospital, Halifax.
