[1] The foundation stone for a new hospital in Southgate was laid by Hugh Childers, Secretary of State for War on 7 May 1880; it was opened by John Rhodes, the Mayor of Wakefield, on 8 December 1880.

They are ignoring the thousands of people who backed our campaign for the Trust to keep its promise of 24/7 consultant led A&E at Pontefract.

The Trust is being forced to make big cuts by Government reforms and the services we were promised are under threat as a result.

Hospital bosses know we won’t accept this plan and we won’t give up the fight for a proper A&E at Pontefract.In October 2019, Mid Yorkshire Trust announced that the maternity-led birth centre would be shut until October 2020 "on the grounds of safety" due to a national shortage of midwives.

Local MP Yvette Cooper has led a campaign against the action, calling it "an absolute disgrace".