LATEST NEWS: Plans to close old hospital move ahead with new sites identified for services

PLANS to close a local hospital have once again come under criticism from Councillors, with one saying a public consultation was “misleading” and another questioning plans to move services to another hospital.

NHS proposals to close Shipley Hospital and move its services to other health facilities, including St Luke’s Hospital, were first revealed last year.

A public consultation on the plans was held late last year, and at a meeting of Bradford Council’s Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee on Thursday night members were given feedback on the consultation.

Members questioned the services being moved out of the Shipley area, with one questioning whether St Luke's could cope with the extra patients.

The hospital currently offers physiotherapy and occupational therapy, x-rays, and outpatient clinics for general surgery and memory assessment, and older people’s psychiatry. Bradford Bereavement Support also provides a counselling service from the hospital.

Councillors criticise 'disgusting' conditions at hospital

In it's consultation, the Bradford District Clinical Commissioning Group says the building, on Kirkgate, is over 100 years old.

It says the hospital “continues to pose issues for staff and patients due to its age and condition. Frequently there are issues with the roof and the fabric of the building, for example. Sadly, the age and structure of the building mean it is not possible to improve the standard to that of a modern, purpose-built, health facility.”

Over 450 people took part in the consultation, and three quarters of consultees felt the CCG should "explore the option to repair the building and retain services at Shipley Hospital."

Around half wanted similar services to be offered in local facilities like GP surgeries.

A final decision on the hospital's future is yet to be made.

When the CCG first brought the proposals for Shipley Hospital to the Committee last year, members were highly critical of the NHS' handling of the building.

Upper floor space at the hospital has been closed off for several years, and Councillors on the committee said they had been in shock with what they encountered on a tour of the hospital, including a crumbling roof and overflowing toilet in an area closed off to the public.

Members questioned whether the NHS had deliberately run the building down to justify closing it.

After that meeting parts of the building were repaired.

At Thursday's meeting one Councillor re-visited this criticism while referring to the consultation document.

Councillor Robert Hargreaves (Cons, Queensbury) said: “This consultation says ‘Sadly, the age and structure of the building mean it is not possible to improve the standard to that of a modern, purpose-built, health facility.’

“That’s not the issue, the issue is it’s been left in the knacker's yard for so long.

“It is not just the age of the stock - somebody is at fault with this. The place was left to go completely downhill.

“This consultation is misleading people. It’s misleading from the offset.

“Also, it’s saying the building is too old. Shipley Hospital is 100 years old. Some of the services are being moved to St Luke’s - that is 168 years old.”

Helen Farmer, Director of Contracting for the CCGs pointed out that three quarters of those who responded had called for the hospital to remain open, so this line must not have been too misleading.

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley) questioned plans to move services to St Luke's in Little Horton. She told the committee she had visited St Lukes a number of times in recent months, and was highly critical of the facilities.

She said: “As bad as it was six months ago, the last time I went was even worse.

“You have to fight it out with ambulances to get to the front door. When you get in you’re faced by a maze of confusing, narrow corridors.

“The fact that we’d move services here and that St Luke’s is an acceptable solution is wrong.

“The technology there is great, but the place is appalling.”

Mrs Farmer said she would look at the concerns Cllr Sunderland raised about St Luke’s.

Councillor Paul Godwin (Lab, Keighley West) said one role of the CCG was to defend local services from any NHS cuts. He said: "Your job as a CCG is to stop them doing this. These services should be delivered in Shipley. I don't care too much about the building, I wouldn't mid if you knocked it down and re-built is as a new health centre rather than send people to St Luke's which is a second rate facility.

"It would be replacing something that is sort of OK by making it worse.

"We were promised by the CCG that services would be delivered locally as far as possible. We feel you're reneging on that. You owe it to the people of Shipley to deliver services locally."

The committee was told that the NHS was in the process of drawing up a business case for the hospital, and a public consultation on the future of the hospital would take place in May.

A final decision will be made in September.