COLNE Valley MP Kali Mountford has stepped up her attack on plans for NHS changes in Huddersfield.

Ms Mountford slammed the proposals as "over-optimistic" and questioned why Huddersfield should lose out.

NHS Trust bosses are proposing to cut maternity services in the town and provide midwife-led only care for mums-to-be in Huddersfield.

The service will move to Halifax.

Ms Mountford said the added journey distance of 3.5 miles for her constituents was not as slight as it sounded.

She added: "It is easy to make a further 3.5 miles sound like a walk in the park, but I fear that this attitude is over-optimistic.

"We need to be aware that this is 3.5 miles with only one route available crossing a very busy motorway and all the inherent problems associated with motorway traffic.

"It is clear to me that women and their families do not have confidence in the transfer arrangements that could be made if a normal birth becomes complicated."

While supporting a midwife-led unit in Huddersfield Ms Mountford said there should also be a full consultancy back-up.

She added: "Huddersfield is the largest town in England so it seems odd that it cannot support its own full range of maternity services.

"There are currently about 2,700 births per year, and we can assume that the numbers will grow as the population continues to grow.

"This is enough to require a full maternity service."

Ms Mountford said some seemingly problem-free births could develop complications.

She added: "I have serious doubts about how women could be accurately assessed as suitable for birthing in a stand-alone midwife unit.

"I also think that all women, irrespective of assessment of who could have a normal birth and who might not, should be allowed to have their babies in their own home town."

She urged health bosses to look at the Acre Mills site - required for health use - as a possible site for a new unit, across the road from the Royal Infirmary.

Ms Mountford said: "My discussions with health service workers, in particular the local midwives, and with users of the service have convinced me that local people want their babies to be born locally and that they want the full range of services available when those births take place.

"Is it too much to ask that this can be provided in the largest town in England?"