New Hospitals Programme move for Airedale Hospital

Article dated Thursday May 25, 2023 at 04:52 PM

Along with four other hospitals in dire need of repair, Airedale has today been designated as being on the New Hospitals Programme by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in the House of Commons.

This means funding for redevelopment of the current Airedale Hospital has been approved.

Airedale General Hospital is among a small number of hospitals in the UK that were built in the late 1960s, and is experiencing severe structural problems as it was built with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), a lightweight, bubbly form of concrete.

RAAC was found to have a lifespan of 30 years and structural engineers have advised that the hospital should be replaced urgently.

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council commented: “This is fantastic news for the people of Keighley and district. Investment in the current facility is long overdue and we’re looking forward to seeing more detail in the near future, including a time scale for when any new building will start admitting patients.

“I’m relieved that all our collective efforts at campaigning for a new hospital in Keighley has finally achieved a positive result and that, as we approach it’s 75th birthday, we can see that NHS provision in the area will be going strong for the next 75 years too”

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