PLANS to axe some maternity services at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary are to be independently reviewed following intervention from the Secretary of State.
Health minister Patricia Hewitt has decided hospital bosses' decision to cut maternity services for high risk pregnancies in Huddersfield needs to be examined by impartial health experts.
Ms Hewitt made the decision after a trio of local MPs and Examiner editor Roy Wright presented her with a petition of more than 7,000 names and explained the strong feeling the controversial plans had created.
The review, to be carried out by the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP), will look at proposals to move the Royal Infirmary's Special Care Baby Unit and some maternity services to Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax. Huddersfield would be left with a midwife-led delivery unit.
But the Health Secretary's decision means other proposals will go ahead. St Luke's Hospital will close and and the mentally ill treated at the Infirmary.
The Infirmary will also provide orthopaedic care, general surgery and emergency paediatric surgery. But planned surgery, gynaecology and children's services will all be moved to the Calderdale Royal Hospital.
The IRP was set up in 2003 to provide advice to the Secretary of State for Health on disputed NHS proposals in England.
The group - which includes hospital bosses, consultants, a retired bishop and university tutors - will speak to both sides and make a decision in the autumn.
Examiner editor Roy Wright, who told Ms Hewitt about the reaction from the local community at a meeting in Westminster, said: "We are clearly disappointed that the maternity service is the only one to be looked at.
"Thousands will be disappointed by that decision. The loss of services is a huge blow.
"Now we must carry on our campaign for the rights of mums in Huddersfield."
