AIREDALE Hospital will move its acute stroke service to Bradford because it is about to reach crisis point, councillors have been told.

A national shortage of stroke consultants has forced the move which will go ahead in August without any public consultation.

Stacey Hunter, director of operations at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, told members of Bradford Council's health and social care overview and scrutiny committee last night there was no other option and it was too late to go out to consultation.

Two of its three stroke consultants resigned in May and a third went on long-term leave and has since left the NHS. Some locums were taken on but by August only one will be left holding the fort.

"We are very much in engagement mode now to explain it to the public," said Ms Hunter.

"Our search to try to recruit consultants has been extensive but you can't get what isn't there. I know there will be some disappointment about Airedale losing beds but it's about saving lives and preventing disability."

Dr Cornelle Parker, clinical director of medicine at Airedale Trust, told the committee: "We should have six full-time consultants but we are a very long way from that. We have had some excellent support from Bradford to help but we are reaching crisis point now. From August we would only have one locum and that does not make for a safe service for Airedale's stroke patients."

So from this summer, stroke patients from Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven will treated at Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) in the critical first 48 hours, meaning two 'hyper acute' emergency beds will be transferred from Airedale to the BRI but they will then be returned for the rest of their care which could be for days, weeks or even months.

Some concerns were raised by councillors about whether the time it would take to transport patients from Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven to the BRI would have an adverse effect on patients and how would concerned relatives get to their loved ones but the committee was told the expert unit at Bradford would more than make up for that.

Councillor Dale Smith (Con, Wharfedale) proposal that the committee notes and recommends the content of the report by the Airedale Wharfedale and Craven Clinical commissioning group was approved.

The shift of critical care stroke beds to Bradford has also been backed by Healthwatch Bradford and District.

Councillor Ralph Berry (Lab, Wibsey), the Council's executive member for health and social care, said: "It seems you (The Trust) have taken action before the service at Airedale becomes untenable so that's commendable."

Committee chairman, Councillor Vanda Greenwood (Lab, Windhill & Wrose) said: "This is happening whether people like it or not.

"You have given us reassurance that safety is your priority. We and you have got to get that message out there now to the public that you are having to do this because you simply don't have a choice.

"The staffing crisis is a national issue we are not on our own. You obviously have patients' health and safety at heart."