Huddersfield Birthing Centre closes to help provide space for urgent surgeries after rise in Covid-19 patients

It comes as all non-urgent surgery has been cancelled at Calderdale Royal Hospital following a rise in the number of patients with coronavirus at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust sites.

Huddersfield birthing centre will now be providing protected capacity for cancer and other urgent surgery patients.

The Trust has said it is contacting all women who are due to give birth in the next few days and to make alternative arrangements.

A statement from the Trust said: "Following a continuing rise in the number of seriously unwell Covid-19 patients being admitted to both Calderdale Royal Hospital (CRH) and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary (HRI), we have taken the difficult decision to reschedule non-urgent surgery. This position will be reviewed weekly."#

The Trust’s Chief Operating Officer, Helen Barker, said: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly.

"Colleagues have been working extremely hard and have done all they could to continue to keep our services open and safe for our patients and their families for as long as possible during these challenging times.”

All emergency care, cancer surgery and care for other life-threatening serious conditions will continue to be provided.

The Trust is urging people to use their GP where possible as surgeries are open however if you have an emergency illness or serious injury you should attend A&E.

CHFT has said it will continue to support its local partners in Calderdale and Kirklees Councils encouraging local communities to follow the new national lockdown coming in on November 5 and to remember 'hands, face, space' to help stop the spread of the virus.

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