Specialist centres proposed for Dewsbury and District Hospital

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust wants to move its neurological rehabilitation unit to the hospital and make it a specialist centre for orthopaedics.

The Trust also hopes to move some of its opthalmology services, including glaucoma, medical retina and cataract services, from Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield to Pontefract.

Interim chief executive Stephen Eames said: “These are very important changes we are proposing and will pave the way for us to develop centres of excellence.

“They will improve the efficiency of the services and help us to make much better use of the hospital buildings we have available.”

Health bosses want local people to give their views before August 16.

If the changes are made, patients from North Kirklees and Wakefield district recovering from conditions including stroke, multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease would all be treated at Dewsbury.

Under proposals for orthopaedics, Dewsbury would become a specialist centre for bone and joint surgery with Pontefract offering a similar service for patients in Wakefield district.

Emergency, complex and children’s orthopaedic work would still be offered at Pinderfields with outpatient appointments at all sites.

Read more on the proposals at www.kirklees.nhs.uk/hospitalchanges or pick up printed copies at community venues.

Alternatively, email [email protected] or ring 01484 464079.