Panel due to report back on Dewsbury hospital plan

The proposals for a major reorganisation of hospital services in Dewsbury, Wakefield and Pontefract were referred to health secretary Jeremy Hunt by local councillors in October.

Members of a Wakefield and Kirklees joint health scrutiny committee said they were not convinced the changes were in the best interest of patients.

Under the plans, Dewsbury’s A&E department would be downgraded and some children’s and maternity services would be centralised in Wakefield.

A spokeswoman for the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust said: “The panel has been asked to report back no later than Wednesday February 19.”

But she said there was no indication as to when Mr Hunt would give his decision on whether the proposed changes should be allowed to go ahead.