Huddersfield Royal Infirmary A&E plans consultation ends

The consultation began in March and is to finish at midnight on 21 June

Plans to demolish Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and replace it with a new facility with no A&E have entered a final day of public consultation.

A report in January revealed proposed changes that NHS bosses have since said could save £31m.

The 14-week consultation began in March and is to finish at midnight.

A petition against the Huddersfield hospital's closure plan currently has more than 63,000 signatures.

More than 4,300 people have already completed the consultation survey organised by the NHS Calderdale and Greater Huddersfield Clinical Commissioning Groups.

Under the proposals all emergency, acute and high-risk planned care would be brought together at Calderdale Royal Hospital in neighbouring Halifax.

A new site in Acre Mills, Huddersfield would be developed as a hospital for planned care - but with no A&E.

The proposals were met with demonstrations against the plan

The plans would eventually see 612 beds at Calderdale Royal Hospital and 120 at the proposed hospital at Acre Mills.

Several demonstrations against the closure of Huddersfield Royal Infirmary have been staged in the town.

Demolishing the infirmary and relocating emergency services to Calderdale would cost £470m compared with £501m under proposals considered for Huddersfield, said a draft public consultation document.

The proposed changes would "result in the greatest overall benefits" for people living in Calderdale and Greater Huddersfield, according to the CCGs.

The final decision on the plan is expected to be made public in October.