Hundreds marched through Huddersfield protesting at the plans

Units including the children's ward, the special care baby unit and the breast clinic would move to Calderdale Royal Hospital under current plans.

Many at the march believed they should not have to travel further afield to use the services.

Huddersfield Primary Care Trust said patients would get improved care.

Protester Dr Jackie Brunsell said: "Well obviously people will have to travel further for their services.

People potentially being transferred longer distances who are acutely ill, then I think potentially it could risk their lives Protester Dr Jackie Brunsell

"And that doesn't just affect the people that are in hospital it affects their families and potentially children at home and the elderly relatives they may be caring for.

"But people potentially being transferred longer distances who are acutely ill, then I think potentially it could risk their lives in that situation.

Kevin Holder, the chief executive of Huddersfield Primary Care Trust said: "Under these proposals there is no bed number reduction, it's just a way of making sure the specialists are grouped together on one particular site and that we try and make best use of those two hospitals.

"The most controversial is around the midwifery side where we're proposing that all of the consultant obstetricians move onto to a single site in Halifax and that would mean we would operate only a midwife led unit in Huddersfield if those proposals were to go ahead.

"The move would offer a better level of care and a lower level of risk... then that potentially is a trade-off, a price, call it what you will, worth paying.

"It's a very emotive subject and we fully understand why people don't want to do that. It's not something that is just happening in Huddersfield it's an issue happening right across the area."