A NATIONAL shortage of stroke consultants is biting at Airedale Hospital, forcing it to move an acute stroke service to Bradford.

From this summer, stroke patients from Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven will treated at Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) in the critical first 48 hours after a stroke, meaning two 'hyper acute' emergency beds will be transferred from Airedale to the BRI.

A new report reveals the hospital in Steeton has had problems sustaining the 24/7 hyper acute stroke service since two of its stroke consultants resigned and a third went on long-term sick leave.

This means the out-of-hours service has been supplied at BRI, while at Airedale three temporary locum consultants were taken on.

But one of these has now left and a second is due to leave in July, leaving just one to cover the service.

The report, by the Airedale Wharfedale and Craven clinical commissioning group, says: "Due to the shortage of consultants, performance of the hyper acute stroke unit at Airedale Foundation Trust has been decreasing over a number of months."

A health watchdog has backed the plans to move the service.

A spokesman for Healthwatch Bradford and District said: "It is clear that in order to deliver the best clinical outcomes for patients, changes do need to be made to the way care is delivered in the crucial 48 hour period after the onset of stroke.

"It’s important that we don’t have meaningless consultation when the Trust has made it clear there is no viable alternative. Instead, the Trusts and Clinical Commissioning Groups need to engage openly with the public about why changes need to take place, and how this will impact on their experience."

But Keighley East councillor Doreen Lee, who sits on Bradford Council's health and social care overview and scrutiny committee, has attacked the move.

"I'm not over happy that these critical care beds are being moved," she said.

"I can understand the reasoning behind it because I understand the need for specialist doctors at this stage of treatment. But my big worry is that Airedale will be closed down bit by bit."

Stacey Hunter, director of operations at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Due to a national shortage of stroke consultants, there is variation in the quality and provision of stroke services across Bradford and Airedale, as there is throughout West Yorkshire, which is why we started a review of stroke care in the district earlier this year. This highlighted future stroke consultant shortages at Airedale Hospital indicating that the unit would be unable to provide the 24/7 access to the expertise needed by patients in an emergency going forward."

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins (Con) said: "I've been kept fully briefed on the trust’s plans and accept that the changes are expected to save lives.

"I'm also assured that Airedale Hospital will retain an acute stroke and rehabilitation unit."