Home / Health / BRI Boss: New Hospital 'Plain and Simple'
BRI Boss: New Hospital 'Plain and Simple'
4 Oct
Summary
- Bradford Royal Infirmary's chief says a new hospital is essential.
- Much of the current BRI facility is over 100 years old.
- Repair costs may exceed the expense of building a new hospital.
Prof Mel Pickup, chief executive of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has declared that Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) requires a new hospital. She informed councillors that much of the existing BRI structure is over 100 years old, suggesting that the cost of repairing and modernizing the facility could surpass that of building a new one.
These concerns echo BRI's previous unsuccessful bid for the government's New Hospital Programme. The maternity care review, published earlier this year, also highlighted issues at BRI. Prof Pickup acknowledged the findings, noting the hospital's infrastructure has been outgrown, hindering modern healthcare delivery.
While Airedale Hospital was selected for a rebuild, prioritized due to RAAC concrete concerns, BRI's challenges remain. Prof Pickup explained that continued investment in repairs over the coming decades could equal or exceed the cost of a new hospital, describing the current approach as piecemeal.
