A campaign to save Huddersfield’s A&E shows no signs of slowing, says #HandsOffHRI founder Karl Deitch.

And there’s plenty going on behind the scenes says Karl as a public consultation on a controversial hospital shake-up plan passes the halfway stage.

Karl, 36, has been made honorary president of the campaign he started after discovering that Huddersfield’s A&E could close under the Right Care Right Time Right Place plan.

While the dad-of-three has become something of an ‘accidental hero’ Karl had an inkling that his campaign, which began as a Facebook group, would blossom.

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Karl, who installs security systems for a living, said: “I had a strange feeling it would take off. I had this funny feeling – and I was right.

“At the halfway stage it’s going as well as I’d envisaged when I started it.”

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Campaigns to save public services often start full of enthusiasm and good intentions.

But shortly after they’ve exploded in popularity, many fade away just as quickly, particularly when things become more challenging.

Karl speaks about the #HandsOffHRI campaign below

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But four months after it formed #HandsOffHRI is still buzzing with energy, buoyed by the support of high-profile public law specialist solicitor Yogi Amin.

Karl says: “We never thought we would have someone as high-profile as Yogi Amin.

“We knew we needed someone big to do it.”

There’s a fundraising gig at Golcar Royal British Legion, on June 5, a black-tie ball is planned and there’s even talk of a second march after thousands attended a Huddersfield town centre march in February.

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They gathered in St George’s Square and then marched around the town centre.

Karl says: “The vision I had at the beginning was to get legal support and we’ve done that.

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“We’re not slowing down; the momentum is still there.

“There’s plenty going on behind the scenes.”

#HandsOffHRI secretary Natalie Ratcliffe added: “Through hard work and sheer determination of the steering group and area subgroups we have become a huge community campaign and we just keep growing.

“We have some great fundraising events coming up over the summer months.

“Even when the consultation concludes we will keep the momentum going and this campaign in the forefront of everyone’s minds.”