Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has unveiled plans for three new hospitals in the West Yorkshire region. The joint bid has been launched by Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust and Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The three hospitals that are targeted for development are Lynfield Mount, Airedale Hospital, St Luke’s Hospital and Bradford Royal Infirmary.
If the new proposals are approved, Airedale Hospital would be rebuilt on its current site, and developed to be carbon neutral and cater for digital solutions. Lynfield Mount, meanwhile, would take a “health campus” approach to community care, and a new acute inpatient facility that integrates mental health and neurodiversity would be developed at its site.
Under the plans, Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital would also be replaced with a single purpose-built hospital. The bid will also provide links to other community health settings, such as health centres, GP surgeries and community centres.
Mel Pickup, Chief Executive for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We want to create modern health and care facilities that support our people and our citizens by securing safe, efficient and fit for purpose hospitals and healthcare for generations to come. We are excited by the opportunity that could be presented to us to really transform the way care is provided for our patients and their families.”
The proposals were submitted to the UK Government earlier this month, and the bid is asking for £1.7 billion in funding.
Therese Patten, Chief Executive for Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust commented: “This bid has been built on a comprehensive and collaborative approach that recognises the collective strength of all our partners and our bold vision to radically transform health and care services. In addition, we want to look beyond the model of hospitals being solely there to provide care to actually being community-based and community-led resources that impact on wider wellbeing and challenge stigma.”
NHS Bradford District and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group, Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership have also supported the plans, and the final decision is expected in spring 2022.
