AN EXTRA £150,000 is set to be poured into the new Wharfedale Hospital each year in an 'upgrade' including extra beds and increased facilities.

Leeds Health Authority agreed this week that facilities planned for the £14 million new hospital on Newall Carr Road, Otley - which is expected to be operational by 2004 - should be expanded.

The upgrade includes eight new beds, a total of 17 new showers in three wards, improvements to the planned diabetes centre, a tea bar in the outpatients department, and an enlarged dining area and activity spaces in the day hospital.

Four of the new beds and five of the additional showers are within the planned surgery ward.

Further additions include additional rooms for administration, chiropody, counselling, consulting and an ambulance room.

The hospital is to be built under a Private Finance Initiative scheme by HBG Projects Ltd and United Medical Enterprises.

With this week's agreement, Leeds Health Authority has now backed leasing the hospital from the firm for a total of £558,000 each year.

Otley town councillors, who heard the announcement at their meeting on Monday night, described the announcement as excellent news.

Councillor Colin Campbell said: "It looks as though we're almost there. It's been a long road to get the hospital, but it really looks a though we're getting there."

North West Leeds Primary Care Group (PCG) also supported Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust's recommendation to go ahead with the larger scheme.

However, the PCG, which will shortly become a Primary Care Trust, said it should be subject to the transfer of more activity to Wharfedale, additional sessions being offered to GPs, and developing the role of primary care services at the hospital.

The Trust has given a commitment to work with the PCG, to reduce the additional costs to the Leeds health economy, and look at identifying inefficiencies within the Trust.

The new hospital is now expected to open in 2004, and the Health Authority says the builders will move onto the site in May this year - allowing for planning permission being granted by Leeds City Council. It estimates the hospital will be completed in November 2003, with doors opening in January 2004.

The Full Business Case for the hospital is expected to go to the Northern and Yorkshire Regional Office of the NHS Executive, for final approval. It is expected to be submitted to the regional office in March this year.