A COUNCILLOR elected to battle hospital changes vowed today: "It's not over yet!"

Jackie Grunsell, who is also a GP, was speaking after the Independent Reconfiguration Panel's decision to give the green light to health bosses who want to cut hospital services in Huddersfield.

The Save The NHS group which Clr Grunsell represents on Kirklees, is holding a march in Huddersfield today to show the strength of feeling against the changes.

Clr Grunsell, who represents the Crosland Moor and Netherton ward, said that when she heard of the panel's decision to allow some maternity services to move to Halifax she was "sickened".

She said: "We are very disappointed with the decision.

"It is an indication that there isn't really an independent review taking place."

She said she believed the decision in Huddersfield illustrated national policy.

She added: "In a recent report the new head of the NHS said he thought there were too many accident and emergency departments and he would also like to see the number of maternity wards cut by a third."

Clr Grunsell said today's marchers would be angry.

She added: "I hope more people will come out and march when they hear of this decision.

"It affects their lives and they haven't voted for it. It shows there is no democracy in the NHS."

She also said she would be looking nationally in Huddersfield's fight against the changes.

She added: "We need to link up. There are protests around the country. There were 30,000 marchers in Cornwall a few weeks ago.

"There is a group of trade unions who have come together to try and stop this."

Clr Grunsell said other parts of the country were following her lead in getting people elected to councils.

When questioned whether someone would stand in Huddersfield at the next general election on a Save The NHS platform, she said: "We will certainly consider looking at having a candidate.

"We don't feel any of the main parties are offering any alternative."