Local MP Robbie Moore has received a first-look at what the rebuilt Airedale Hospital could look like during a meeting with the Health Secretary and Minister responsible for the government's new hospitals programme.
VR technology, videos and models were on hand to give a view of the plans for Airedale, which were announced by the government in May as part of a £20 billion investment in hospital infrastructure - an announcement Mr Moore has called “one of the most significant investments announced for our community in decades”.
The Keighley and Ilkley MP met Health Secretary Steve Barclay and Hospital Rebuilding Minister Lord Markham at the showcase event to discuss the next steps for the project, with the project to be completed by 2030.
Mr Barclay said the Department of Health will use a new design approach known as the ‘Hospital 2.0’ concept, a vision for how hospital schemes will be delivered with greater efficiency and reduced cost.
That will mean standardised designs and modular builds are used to speed up the construction process. Potential efficiencies will include vastly reducing the types of components used in hospitals builds and utilising modern methods of construction, which involve the offsite manufacturing of major building components.
Robbie Moore MP said: “The government's announcement of a full rebuild for Airedale Hospital was one of the most significant investments announced for our community in decades and one of my proudest moments as Keighley and Ilkley’s MP so far.
"It was therefore extremely exciting to see plans for our new hospital up close at this showcase, as well as to meet with our Health Secretary Steve Barclay and Health Minister Lord Markham to discuss the next steps for this landmark project.
"I emphasised to both the Secretary of State and the Minister that whilst funding is now secured, the real work begins now, and I look forward to working closely with the government and the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust to see these exciting plans come to fruition by no later than 2030."
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