Bradford: Delays on new surgical unit threaten funding

Work on a surgery center must be fast-tracked to prevent a “consequential impact” on funding, a health trust has said.

The £19m day case unit at St Luke’s Hospital in Bradford was due to open in the spring but construction “has not progressed as anticipated”, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said.

Now he has called on Bradford Council to lift the conditions when building work is allowed.

Failure to complete the project on time could risk funding, the trust said.

Planning approval for the development was granted in July 2023, with a condition that building work could take place between 07:30 and 18:00 on weekdays.

The trust asked the council to lift this condition, arguing that builders needed to work on the site seven days a week for it to be finished in time for handover in July.

The application states: “Construction work has not progressed as originally anticipated.

“This has set back the development somewhat, which will have a consequential impact on the financing of the project, which requires the development to be completed as soon as possible.”

The application said the nearest homes were “a substantial distance” from the site and the weekend works would cause “limited” disruption.

He continued: “It is important to note that there have been no complaints from local residents since construction began.”

Once open, the new building will be separate from Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s main acute site at Bradford Royal Infirmary and will only provide planned surgery.

It will focus primarily on providing high-volume, low-complexity operations, including trauma and orthopedics, general surgery, urology, gynecology, plastic surgery and colorectal surgery.

Referring to the delay, a spokesman for the trust said: “As with all large-scale construction projects, particularly those involving the installation of high-tech medical equipment, delays can occur, but planning permission to allow work to continue over the weekend will help us complete. the project on time.

“When completed, the day case unit will increase operations delivered in Bradford by more than 5,000 a year, reducing patient waiting times for surgery and helping to tackle local health inequalities.”