Pressures on Bradford Council could leave hospital patients facing longer waiting lists for beds.

Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive David Jackson has warned that any cuts to the Council's social services budget could have a knock-on effect on waiting lists and the availability of beds.

The Council's social services department is currently £4.43 million in the red and desperately needs to make cuts.

But Mr Jackson warned that if the authority slashes the number of nursing home beds available to discharge elderly patients to, it could lead to serious 'bed blocking' in the winter.

This would lead to increased waiting times and lists and the Trust would fail to achieve key targets and lose out on performance money of almost £1 million.

Mr Jackson said: "Social services funds 63 patients moving from hospital into nursing homes in Bradford and Airedale.

"If there is a cut in this quota we would immediately begin to have blocked beds."

He delivered the stark warning at a meeting of Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust board.

"Social services in Bradford has always been helpful and we have a first class relationship," he said. "We have not had a blocked bed problem because of this."

However he warned that the recent loss of a number of nursing home places in Leeds could be emulated in Bradford.

"At the halfway stage of the year the Trust is on course to deliver its finance, activity and other targets by the year end," he said.

"While this is clearly a satisfactory position the board should be aware of the significant risks the Trust faces in remaining on course to achieve all its targets in the current financial year.