Local hospitals will lose their services to larger centres unless they fundamentally change.
That was the stark warning from Huddersfield hospital bosses at their trust’s annual general meeting as it emerged it continues to be a financially challenging time for the organisation.
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust is now facing debts of £23m and this is expected to rise to £25m by the end of the financial year.
The biggest costs include staff and running duplicate services.
Finance director Keith Griffiths admitted it had been the most difficult year he had faced in his 19 years as a finance director.
Mr Griffiths said: “2014/15 has been the most challenging I have experienced in my career to date.”
Plans which could see the closure or downgrading of A&E services at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary or Calderdale Royal Hospital, Halifax, are to be officially unveiled in December.
Andrew Haigh, chairman of Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) which runs the two hospitals, said he feared services would be lost to bigger centres, such as Leeds.
Mr Haigh said the trust, which has predicted it will end the next financial year in debt, must change if it is to retain many of its services.
He said: “If we want to retain our services and not lose them to bigger centres we have to change.”
Mr Haigh added that the trust was working hard to get itself out of debt.
He said: “Locally, the first half of the year in particular, was dominated by discussion and debate around the outline proposals drawn up by ourselves, Locala and South West Yorkshire Partnership Foundation Trust on how the health system in Greater Huddersfield and Calderdale could work sustainably going forward.
“It included proposals for changing the way that health care is delivered both closer to home in the community and within the hospital setting, including emergency care provision.
“This was always going to be an emotive subject but there is no question from a patient safety and quality of care perspective, as well as financial, that change has to happen.”
Mr Haigh added: “We will not achieve this by compromising on care.”
