Bosses at Airedale Hospital say they are anticipating another tough winter ahead.

The Steeton hospital’s board of directors have considered their latest winter plan, which is designed to ensure they can accommodate the predicted seasonal increase in demand.

Airedale chief executive Bridget Fletcher said she was impressed that more than 1,000 staff have been vaccinated against flu.

Speaking at the board’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, she also paid tribute to the effective leadership which has made the vaccination programme a success.

Non-executive director Anne Gregory said the hospital’s winter plan looked solid. But she asked whether it could be reviewed if needed, if this winter is particularly harsh.

“It feels sometimes as if we’re the passive recipient of whatever wave is going to hit us next,” she added.

Director of operations Stacey Hunter said she expected the coming winter would be challenging. However, she and Miss Fletcher said the hospital was capable of altering its winter plan accordingly if necessary.