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| Heath trust push for Dewsbury A&E downgrade plan | Heath trust push for Dewsbury A&E downgrade plan |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Health chiefs at a cash-strapped NHS trust are being asked to back "radical" changes which could see A&E services at Dewsbury hospital downgraded. | Health chiefs at a cash-strapped NHS trust are being asked to back "radical" changes which could see A&E services at Dewsbury hospital downgraded. |
| Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust has put forward a preferred plan to make Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield the district's main A&E department. | |
| It has to save £24m by April but will still end the year with a £26m deficit. | It has to save £24m by April but will still end the year with a £26m deficit. |
| Former nurse Wendy Senior, from the Save Local Hospitals Services Group, said the proposals were "appalling". | Former nurse Wendy Senior, from the Save Local Hospitals Services Group, said the proposals were "appalling". |
| Two options are being considered for the trust's three hospitals, Dewsbury, Pinderfields and Pontefract. | Two options are being considered for the trust's three hospitals, Dewsbury, Pinderfields and Pontefract. |
| The preferred option, which would involve capital funding of almost £38.5m, would see Dewsbury losing its A&E unit as well as intensive and high dependency care. | The preferred option, which would involve capital funding of almost £38.5m, would see Dewsbury losing its A&E unit as well as intensive and high dependency care. |
| The Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust was formed in 2002 and is responsible for three major acute hospitals in Wakefield, Dewsbury and Pontefract, serving more than 500,000 people. | The Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust was formed in 2002 and is responsible for three major acute hospitals in Wakefield, Dewsbury and Pontefract, serving more than 500,000 people. |
| The financial position of the trust has been subjected to significant scrutiny over the last couple of years and in 2011/12, the trust reported a deficit of £19.2m. | The financial position of the trust has been subjected to significant scrutiny over the last couple of years and in 2011/12, the trust reported a deficit of £19.2m. |
| This year the trust is predicting an overspend of £26m, which takes account of savings already made. | This year the trust is predicting an overspend of £26m, which takes account of savings already made. |
| It is against this backdrop that the trust is proposing a significant change to how and where services are offered. | It is against this backdrop that the trust is proposing a significant change to how and where services are offered. |
| The preferred option would see all emergency and complex cases dealt with at Pinderfields, while planned and routine care would be seen at Dewsbury and Pontefract. | The preferred option would see all emergency and complex cases dealt with at Pinderfields, while planned and routine care would be seen at Dewsbury and Pontefract. |
| Other changes would see the A&E departments in Dewsbury and Pontefract lose their consultant-led service. | Other changes would see the A&E departments in Dewsbury and Pontefract lose their consultant-led service. |
| There is likely to be significant political opposition to the proposals but health chiefs warn that without change some services could become unsustainable. | There is likely to be significant political opposition to the proposals but health chiefs warn that without change some services could become unsustainable. |
| Patients requiring such services would have to travel nearly nine miles to Pinderfields. | Patients requiring such services would have to travel nearly nine miles to Pinderfields. |
| Both options would also see Dewsbury's maternity unit downgraded. | Both options would also see Dewsbury's maternity unit downgraded. |
| 'Greatest inequalities' | |
| Councillor Mehboob Khan, Labour leader of Kirklees Council, said he would "stand shoulder to shoulder" with local residents to fight the proposed changes at Dewsbury hospital. | |
| "Communities in Dewsbury suffer the greatest health inequalities in the mid Yorkshire area, including a high infant mortality rate," he said. | |
| "The birth rate is also high so it makes absolute sense to retain a full obstetrician-led maternity unit where it is most needed and can have the greatest impact." | |
| Councillor Robert Light, leader of Kirklees Conservatives, said: "We believe it is vital to keep our A&E at Dewsbury. | Councillor Robert Light, leader of Kirklees Conservatives, said: "We believe it is vital to keep our A&E at Dewsbury. |
| "The trust needs to understand that the hospital services a large area outside Dewsbury, Batley and the Spen Valley, and that such a proposal will seriously reduce the ability for thousands of people to access quality A&E services within a reasonable distance." | "The trust needs to understand that the hospital services a large area outside Dewsbury, Batley and the Spen Valley, and that such a proposal will seriously reduce the ability for thousands of people to access quality A&E services within a reasonable distance." |
| A report by the trust states: "In developing these options, the trust has concluded that 'do nothing' is not an option for both clinical and financial sustainability." | A report by the trust states: "In developing these options, the trust has concluded that 'do nothing' is not an option for both clinical and financial sustainability." |
| The alternative option would involve Dewsbury keeping its consultant-led A&E but the report said that plan was regarded as the "do minimum option". | The alternative option would involve Dewsbury keeping its consultant-led A&E but the report said that plan was regarded as the "do minimum option". |
| Members of the NHS Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield District Cluster Board are being asked to support the preferred changes. | Members of the NHS Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield District Cluster Board are being asked to support the preferred changes. |
| The board is meeting to discuss the plan later and will decide whether to put it out to public consultation. | The board is meeting to discuss the plan later and will decide whether to put it out to public consultation. |