REFUGEES from war--torn Kosovo in need of medical care could be sent to Wharfedale General Hospital in the case of an emergency.

Staff at the hospital have been taking part in planning exercises to see how they would cope should any Kosovars be sent to them.

Andrew Bannister, spokesman for the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, stressed the preparations were just exercises. He said: "Hospitals across the country have been asked to look at contingency plans in case they are asked to accommodate refugees needing medical attention.

"The Leeds Health Authority has asked us to see what could be done if we had to take refugees and we have identified possible areas where people could go, including two wards at Wharfedale General Hospital."

Other hospitals in Leeds which could be used to care for refugees are Seacroft and Leeds General Infirmary.

"In this case it was a planning exercise only. We just have to make plans of how we would deal with it if the need arose.

"It's not yet possible to say if people will be coming to Leeds and if they might be flown here, assessed and then given medical care," he said.

"Everything is very speculative but if we are called upon, we do need to be in a certain amount of readiness for it."

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