Work on hospital unit needs to be stepped up to protect funding - application reveals

WORK on an operating theatre at a Bradford hospital needs to be accelerated or there could be a “consequential impact” on funding for the £19 million project.

Construction on a new “day case unit” at St Luke’s Hospital began in September, with an estimated opening date of Spring 2024.

The building project would get funding through the Government’s Targeted Investment Fund, and would help reduce waiting lists for Bradford residents who need minor surgeries, many of which had been delayed by the Covid pandemic.

But now it has been revealed that construction of the building “has not progressed as anticipated” and there needs to be extra work to make the building ready for its July handover date.

Failure to meet this deadline could risk the funding for the development.

The centre is being built by the Darwin Group on behalf of the Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and planning approval for the work was granted in July 2023.

One condition of the approval was that while construction could take place between 7.30am and 6pm on weekdays, work could only take place between 7.30am and 1pm on Saturdays. No work would be allowed on Sundays.

Bradford Council said this condition was needed to “protect the amenity of the occupants of nearby dwellings.”

Now the Trust has applied to the Council to lift this condition, arguing that builders need to be working on the site seven days a week for it to be finished in time.

Explaining the need for extra site work, the application says: “Work began on the DCU in Summer 2023. However, construction work has not progressed as initially anticipated.

An artist's impression of the planned unit (Image: NHS)

“This has somewhat set the development back, which is set to have a consequential impact upon the funding of the project, which requires development to be completed as soon as possible.

“It is recognised that the handover date for the DCU is fast approaching, delays in which will result in a delay to the opening of the DCU.”

It goes on to point out that the current conditions only allow five and a half hours of construction work to take place over the weekend, and this needed to be dropped to ensure the building is completed within the time limits.

It adds: “It should be noted that the funding for the development requires the DCU and infrastructure be built as soon as possible to ensure the handover date is met.

“It should also be recognised that there is currently significant demand for the DCU, which will address the current waiting list in the Trust, the majority of which is day case patients.

“When operational it will deliver up to 5,760 operations each year.

“This equates to 15 a day.

“Therefore there is a significant public benefit from the opening of the DCU, and it is anticipated that the extension of working hours would allow it to be completed as soon as possible, which would be beneficial for the Trust and the residents of Bradford.”

The application goes on to argue that the nearest homes are “a substantial distance away” from the construction site, and weekend work would cause “limited” disruption.

The application adds: “It is important to note, there have been no complaints from local residents since construction began.

“Should the variation be approved, it is anticipated the development can be fully constructed and handed over in July.”

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

It will focus mainly on providing high volume, low complexity surgery including trauma and orthopaedics, general surgery, urology, gynaecology, plastic surgery and colorectal surgery.

Referring to the delay, a spokesperson for the Trust said: “Construction of the new NHS surgical day case unit at St Luke’s Hospital is well under way and is set for completion in Summer this year.

“As with all large-scale building projects, especially those involving installation of hi-tech medical equipment, delays can occur but planning permission to allow work to continue on weekends will help us complete the project on schedule.

“When complete, the day case unit will increase operations delivered in Bradford by over 5,000 a year, reducing the time patients wait for surgery, and help tackle local health inequalities.”