Liberal Democrat Councillor Janet Battye wants plans to be developed for Todmorden Health Centre to become a centre for health and social care in Todmorden.
The issue was raised at a meeting of Calderdale Council called to discuss the report and recommendations of the People’s Commission on Health and Social Care.
Coun Battye said: “This important community building gives us a golden opportunity to bring services together in Todmorden so that it really can become a one-stop shop for local people needing help from a wide range of health and social care services.
“I understand that the Clinical Commissioning Group of GPs is working up ideas about ‘care closer to home’ and Todmorden and its health centre could be a good place to try these out, to see what works and what can be replicated in other parts of Calderdale. We’ve all been worried about the plans to change the hospital service. It makes sense to devise other ways of providing people with the services they need so that it’s easier for people to get help. I’m looking forward to seeing what can be done!”
l This week Calderdale Council’s Liberal Democrat group outlined the changes it would like to see made to budget proposals put forward by the council’s Conservative-led Cabinet.
Coun Battye said the party had made three responses, including concerns the greatest reduction in 2017-18 would come from “discretionary” services and wanted targets reviewed to reduce significantly the savings required from these services, wanted to see £500,000 spent on Calderdale’s markets, including Todmorden and plans to move Hebden Bridge’s, and redoubled efforts to reduce energy use in council buildings.