THE LOSS of a gynaecology clinic at the Coronation Hospital has sparked new fears of a large-scale reduction of Ilkley hospital services.

Airedale NHS Trust says it must move a consultant's weekly clinics to Airedale General Hospital as the result of a directive from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists - or face losing its accreditation to train junior doctors in the field.

But there are also fears that consultants working in other fields at the Coronation Hospital may also face the move from Ilkley to Steeton - effectively closing down or reducing other clinics in Ilkley.

The consultant will be moved from Ilkley to Airedale General Hospital from the end of March.

Campaigners have been angered by the move, which they claim contradicts a pledge from Government Health Minister Jacqui Smith in 2002 that the Ilkley hospital - 100 years old this year - would not be 'closed by stealth'.

Councillor Mike Gibbons this week told Ilkley Parish Council: "I've heard rumours that during the week prior to Christmas, it was firmly suggested to the consultants at the Coronation that they transfer their consultations back to Airedale. I'm very concerned about that. We were promised that closure by stealth would not take place and there would be no changes to the staffing levels until final decisions had been made."

Many had believed services at Springs Lane were safe after hospital owner Airedale Primary Care Trust (PCT) announced its intention to pursue the building of a new Ilkley hospital.

Airedale NHS Trust, which runs services at the hospital, claims only one consultant working at the Coronation Hospital is affected.

A spokesman said: "Airedale NHS Trust has recently received a directive from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists requiring the trust to provide 40-hour weekly on-site consultant cover for the labour ward. If the trust fails to undertake this then it will lose accreditation for training junior doctors in obstetrics and gynaecology.

"To meet this directive our consultants will have to reduce the number of satellite outpatients clinics they provide. All patients who require specialist consultant care will be seen at Airedale General Hospital but will still receive community-led care by their midwives and general practitioners."

The consultant affected runs three-and-a-half-hour gynaecology and obstetrics clinics on alternate weeks. In future Ilkley women who need to see a consultant in these fields will have to travel to Steeton. Ilkley campaigners are expected to hold a meeting shortly to discuss the loss of the clinic.