Understand
Bradford needs a new hospital as much of the existing infrastructure is over a century old, council told
Overview
The chief executive of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Prof Mel Pickup, told a council scrutiny committee that Bradford Royal Infirmary needs a new hospital because much of the building is over 100 years old. Speaking during a discussion on the Baroness Amos review into maternity care, officials highlighted that repairing and upgrading the ageing estate would likely cost more than building a new facility, while space constraints continue to affect services like maternity.
Key points
- Prof Mel Pickup stated that Bradford Royal Infirmary needs a new hospital, noting that much of the building is more than a century old.
- Repairing and upgrading the existing infrastructure would likely cost more than building a new hospital from scratch.
- A previous bid to be included in the government's New Hospital Programme was unsuccessful.
- Neighbouring Airedale Hospital was selected for a rebuild in 2023 due to the presence of dangerous RAAC concrete.
- Maternity officials highlighted that the current building's constraints and lack of space have negatively affected patient care and failed to keep pace with modern clinical practices.