A LEADING councillor in Todmorden has urged health bosses to provide clarity on a controversial shake-up of emergency services in Calderdale.

Coun Janet Battye, Liberal Democrat group leader and a Calder ward member, has spoken out amid fears Calderdale Royal Hospital’s A&E unit may be shut and its caseload transferred to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

And while a wide-ranging review may provide extra services at Todmorden Health Centre, Coun Battye wants NHS chiefs to come clean about their intentions.

She said: “Two weeks after the proposals became public, information is still dribbling out but with no real explanation or dialogue with local people.

“All we’ve been offered so far is ‘engagement’ over the summer and consultation at some vague time in the future.

“A real consultation process needs to be put in place as a matter of urgency.”

“Some of the changes and improvements in the presentation do sound useful and interesting – the promotion of self care and integrated support, the notions of locality teams and community hubs.

“Some people think that this may mean that we’re getting a modern version of a ‘cottage hospital’ in Todmorden.”

The councillor said it was not surprising that a campaign had now begun to save the A&E department.