A PSYCHIATRIC hospital in Bradford has revealed plans to expand, creating almost 20 jobs.

Cygnet private hospital in Wyke has applied for permission to build an extension of nine new en-suite bedrooms for NHS patients.

And the plan has already won the backing of a ward councillor, who said he fully supported the move.

Cygnet opened its all-male Blankney Grange hospital in Wyke in 2002 and bosses say it is now operating at capacity.

The expansion plans would see an extra four bedrooms built on its 15-bed Branwell ward, where patients experiencing acute mental health emergencies are admitted.

In a report to planners, Cygnet said some patients in need of emergency help were currently having to be taken for miles to get the treatment they needed.

It said: "Currently many men requiring such a service have to travel long distances, and considerably over 150 miles, to be treated in services far away from their home due to lack of available local beds."

There would also be an extra five beds built on the hospital's 17-bedroom Fairfax ward, a locked unit for elderly men with 'hard to manage' behaviour.

The men, who often have dementia or other complex needs, may have been transferred from nursing homes which had found their behaviour too challenging.

Ward Councillor David Robinson (Ind, Wyke) said he supported the expansion.

He said: "I'm fully supportive of the work Cygnet does, because there is a need for specialist hospitals like they have.

"We have had problems in the past but they are very mindful of any complaints. I have had a few meetings with them and they have always been responsive and listened to residents' problems."

A spokesman for Cygnet said: "We have carried out detailed pre-application consultation, to make sure the planning application respects the needs of the local community, satisfies the council’s planning requirements and meets the need for additional specialist mental health care provision.

"It’s really important to us that we work closely with the local community, so it is very encouraging to hear the positive feedback from our ward councillor.

"The application has been registered, but is yet to be determined by the council.

"Subject to approval, we hope to be able to expand our care provision in the near future, providing additional jobs and much-needed acute and elderly mental health care."

Labour Wyke ward councillors Sarah Ferriby and David Warburton both declined to comment, saying as they sat on committees which made decisions on planning matters, it would be inappropriate to do so.

The planning application will be considered over the coming months.

Cygnet also operates another hospital in Bierley, Bradford.