Children’s services has emerged as the preferred speciality for a £28 million ward block planned for Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The public was asked to join staff, patients and governors of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in deciding whether cancer services or children’s services should be housed there.

As a result of the consultation, the ward block two panel is recommending to the board of directors that children’s services should be the preferred option. If this goes ahead, existing accommodation for cancer services would be refurbished.

The children’s unit in the new block would replace wards 16 and 17. The new block will also house a medical assessment unit and include a redeveloped entrance.

The foundation trust’s board of directors will discuss the recommendations when it meets on Wednesday, April 27, and make a final decision.

In a report going before the hospital trust’s board of governors next week, director of planning and performance Dean Johnson says: “The consultation events and surveys have provided valuable information which has and will continue to feed into the decision-making process regarding the second ward block development.

“No decision will be made regarding construction until final approval at the board of directors in April 2012.”

The board of governors meets at Field House at BRI next Wednesday at 4.30pm.

  • Read the full story in Friday's T&A