HEALTH bosses believe only three in 100 patients will be affected by longer journey times if plans to shake up hospital services go ahead.
And they say ambulances would get from Huddersfield to Halifax in a third of the time it takes a car in rush-hour traffic.
The news comes after the Examiner reported how the journey took 31 minutes when tested by campaigners this week.
Today Jo Bibby, the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust's project director for planning, said: "In an emergency, on average, an ambulance travelling with blue lights and sirens would cover the distance in 10 to 12 minutes."
"The proposals have been drawn up with a view to guaranteeing long-term, high-quality, safe services.
"They reluctantly take into account that some people may have travel a few miles further for them.
"However it is important to emphasise that the vast majority of appointments, such as outpatient and day case surgery, will be unaffected.
"If the proposals were put into place we estimate less than three in 100 of patients attending our hospitals could be affected by longer journey times."
She said the changes - which include transferring maternity, gynaecological, children's and surgical services from Huddersfield Royal Infirmary to the Calderdale Royal Hospital - were necessary to protect them.
If the proposals are agreed, a review will be carried out to find ways of lessening travel.
Ms Bibby added: "Children and baby wards at both hospitals have 24-hour visiting for parents, to offer them maximum flexibility over travelling times so they can avoid commuter traffic as far as possible.
"Parents can also stay overnight to avoid travelling at peak times and to keep disruption to a minimum."
