PLANS for a future new hospital in Bradford have been revealed after a funding bid is being prepared.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says it is in the very early stages of preparing a funding bid for a future new hospital in the city.

The Trust, which runs Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital, is looking at options for its buildings estate and how it will meet future needs and growing demands for its services. The new hospital funding bid is part of that work.

The new hospital proposal forms part of Bradford Council’s Bradford Core Strategy, which sets out the strategic direction to create a sustainable future for the district.

Mel Pickup, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive, said: “As the youngest city in Europe, with 29 per cent of our population under 20 and nearly a quarter under 16, the need for local healthcare services will continue to grow.

“This, coupled with our Trust’s ageing estate, drives the need for strategic healthcare planning and exploring options to secure funding for future large-scale development.

“Even though over coming years we will increasingly be able to deliver care closer to home for many patients, there will always be a need for hospitals. So we are working closely with our local partners to plan for the future.

“We want to ensure our patients have world-class facilities to receive cutting-edge care and we, as a Trust, can meet the changing needs and rising demand the NHS will face during the next decade and beyond.”

The Trust plans to bid for funding from the NHS New Hospital Programme (NHP) as part of the Health Infrastructure Plan (HIP) – the biggest hospital building programme in a generation.

The NHP is the Prime Minister’s commitment that 40 hospitals will be built by 2030 as part of a package worth £3.7 billion. This aims to give people access to the best possible healthcare when they need it, for generations to come.

As well as seeking a new hospital opportunity, the district-wide infrastructure planning has also highlighted opportunities for improvements in community health, GPs and mental health facilities.