One hundred beds could be lost in proposed hospital changes.
And it could cost £150m to “transform the estate” in a potential re-jig of A&E services at Calderdale and Huddersfield.
Health bosses are proposing five options which are: no change; HRI loses its A&E or CRH loses its A&E mitigated by increased specialist care at Holme Valley Memorial Hospital and at Todmorden; downgrading both A&Es and relying on a major unit further afield; or something else.
A Strategic Outline Case (SOC) includes ideas of how the options can be achieved, including bed numbers decreasing from 836 currently to 736.
Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary has capacity for more than 400 beds each.
The outline case includes 649 beds on the unplanned site, which includes an A&E department, and just 87 beds on the planned site, the hospital that may lose its A&E.
Mr Martin DeBono, Acting Medical Director, said: “The proposal to have two specialist hospitals is one of five scenarios outlined in the SOC all of which are now subject to an engagement process by the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).
“Although the SOC refers to an estimate of 87 beds on the planned site, should this proposal be taken up, this refers to inpatient beds only and does not include a large amount of day case procedures, such as some wrist, hand and knee surgeries, gall bladder operations etc that would take place on the planned site.
“Also on the planned site would be outpatient services, including routine appointments, and diagnostic services, including blood tests, x-rays and ultrasound, meaning the site would continue to see a high volume of patients.
“Many planned procedures do not require a hospital inpatient stay.”
Martin Carter, spokesman for the Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “The strategic review across health and social care is about admitting fewer people to hospital by treating them closer to home instead.”
He added that there would be Trust-wide investment in reconfiguring hospital services but it was a “spend to save” scenario.
The SOC report puts the cost of transforming the estate at £150m.
Lesley Hill, Director of Estates, Facilities, Performance and Planning, said: “The £150m is the estimated cost to enhance some community facilities and to make the changes required to the estate.”
The loss of beds has caused concern among Calderdale Labour members.
Clr Anne Collins, Labour group secretary, says it is becoming more unlikely that the Acute and Emergency hospital will be in Calderdale.
She said: “We understand that the Huddersfield site is about 50% larger than the site in Halifax. In addition, the Calderdale site is covered by a PFI agreement which is likely to make major change more costly.
“In reality, this means that the Calderdale site would only be suitable for the Planned Specialist hospital, meaning major changes to travel for staff and patients alike in both Huddersfield and Calderdale, as well as serious implications for local employment and businesses.”
Just click on the headline below to read the story
Fears for the future of A&E in Huddersfield and Calderdale
Huddersfield and Calderdale A&E options to be revealed
Plans to close either Huddersfield or Calderdale A&E unit confirmed
Huddersfield and Calderdale A&E shake-up questions answered
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