MPs unite to ask Hunt to intervene over Huddersfield A&E

CONSERVATIVE and Labour MPs have joined forces to ask Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to review a decision which will mean Huddersfield residents have to go to Halifax for emergency healthcare.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Jan 2016, 18:54 BST
Updated 27th Jan 2016, 19:04 BST
Huddersfield A&E is under threat of closureHuddersfield A&E is under threat of closure
Huddersfield A&E is under threat of closure

A consultation is underway over plans which could see Huddersfield Royal Infirmary replaced with a new hospital without an accident and emergency department with urgent cases instead treated in Halifax.

In a joint letter to the Health Secretary, Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman and Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney argue residents will be faced with journeys of up to 40 minutes to access emergency care and point to analysis suggesting the changes could lead to an additional 157 deaths per year.

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The letter requests a meeting with Mr Hunt and urges him to “consider issuing a ministerial directive against what is being proposed”.

Mr McCartney has secured a debate in parliament on the issue which will be held in Westminster Hall on Tuesday which will also feature contributions from other MPs in the area and be attended by a health minister.

Writing on his website, Mr McCartney said: “This has been a great community campaign. Thank you to everyone who has contacted me and I’ll certainly be using some of the individual experiences of our local A&E and well researched points in my speech next week.”

Related topics:Jeremy HuntMPsHuddersfieldLabourHalifax