Have a say on future of outpatient physiotherapy and community therapy services

News - 3 July 2023

Local people are being asked to have a say about what’s important to them when outpatient physiotherapy and community therapy services are moved from Shipley Hospital.
A photograph of the exterior of Shipley Hospital

Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership is planning to move outpatient physiotherapy and community therapy services from Shipley Hospital to alternative sites in and around North Bradford.

The idea is to provide modern, fit-for-purpose facilities for patients and an improved working environment for staff at locations that will be able to meet future demand.

This work is the next step in the review of Shipley Hospital – and the services provided from there – that has been ongoing since 2019.

Share your views in the survey until August 4, 2023

'We need to future-proof services'

The Health and Care Partnership has published a detailed involvement document and answered frequently asked questions to give more information about the plans, why services have to move, and the proposed new locations.

Drop-in events will be taking place during July 2023, where you can come along in person to ask questions and share your views – details of these events will be available soon.

Helen Farmer, Programme Director for Access to Care at the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership said: “We know that Shipley Hospital has been at the heart of the community for over 100 years, with many families having a personal connection to the building. Sadly, the age and structure of the building means that it’s not possible to improve the standard to that of a modern, purpose-built, health facility.

“Based on the insight from previous engagement with the local community and taking into account the space and facilities needed to deliver therapy services, we have identified new locations for these services at Westbourne Green and Eccleshill Community Hospitals. These services will also continue to be available at a range of other locations, including general practice and in people’s homes when needed.

"By moving services out of Shipley Hospital into modern facilities, means that we can future-proof these services in locations that provide improved facilities for patients and staff. Both locations are less than five miles from Shipley Hospital.”

More information

  • You can share your views in the survey until August 4, 2023.
  • The Involvement Document gives you more information about the plans, why services have to move and the proposed new locations.
  • The Frequently Asked Questions document sets out information in response to common questions, and this will be updated throughout the involvement period.
  • Drop-in events will be taking place during July 2023, where you can come along in person to ask questions and share your views - details to follow.
  • Easy Read information is available and a BSL video of this information is being finalised by Bradford Talking Media and will be uploaded soon.
  • You can call or text 07779 996756 to request information in different languages or formats.

Looking for information about health and care?

Find advice and information to help you stay well and make decisions about your health and social care support.

Find advice and information

You might also be interested in

Sarah - Chair of the Board of Trustees

image of Sarah, the Chair of the Board of Trustees

As the Chair of the board of trustees, I work with the other trustees and staff to help set the strategic direction of Healthwatch Bradford and District. We meet regularly to look at finance reports, agree the budget, get updates on the work of the staff team and make any decisions that are important to ensure the charity is as strong and effective as possible. We also work closely with the senior staff team to make sure they have the support they need. I previously managed Healthwatch Bradford and District, and I’m passionate about ensuring our local community has a strong voice in the local NHS. I know from personal experience, as both a patient and a carer, that the NHS can be confusing and it can be hard to have your voice heard. We are a diverse and brilliant community, and it’s vital that every part of it has the chance to speak up and help shape our care.

Outside of my role, I’ve got two young children so I’m often busy with them, but I also love yoga and walking in the woods and moors around the District.

I think Healthwatch Bradford and District does a vital job hearing from people across the District, sharing their experiences and views with the NHS, and helping the health and care system better understand the community. I love that I can support this, and I really enjoy getting to work with the fantastic team.

 

Emma - member of the Board of Trustees

Emma - member of the board of Director

"Healthwatch Bradford and District plays a vital role in making sure every person’s voice is valued, respected, and used to drive meaningful change across our local health and care systems."

I’ve always been driven by a deep belief that people deserve to be heard when it comes to their health, wellbeing, and social care. That belief has shaped my entire career and I’ve spent my life working across health and social care. I have spent time in emergency departments, on hospital wards, within social care services, and alongside community groups where I’ve witnessed extraordinary dedication across our system, but I’ve also seen where things fall short. Those experiences have strengthened my conviction that listening to people’s real stories is the key to creating better, fairer, and more responsive services.

As a Trustee of Healthwatch Bradford and District, I’m proud to help ensure that this principle sits at the heart of everything we do. My role involves supporting the leadership team with strategic decisions, guiding our communications, and helping to shape the organisation’s public presence so that the Bradford and district community knows we are here to champion what matters to them.

Outside of work, life is full and joyful. I have a large, lively family, I foster dogs (which brings chaos and love into the house), and I find calm and creativity through crochet.

 

Jo - member of the Board of Trustees

image of Jo

“I’m committed to making sure every voice, especially those often overlooked, shapes the future of our local health and care services.”

Alongside my work as an Aviation Ops Co‑ordinator, I serve as a trustee where my role is to read, question, and challenge. I bring real‑life experience into board decisions, always trying to make sure services and strategies work for the people they’re meant to help. Because I commute between cities for my job, I get to see how health services operate in different parts of the country. That wider perspective really influences my understanding of services, especially when I see how differently things can be done in other areas of the UK.

I have a particular interest in children’s services, the elderly, and vulnerable communities as I feel these people have seldom heard voices and need to be supported within healthcare services. As a Healthwatch board member, I champion the voice of local people in health and social care. I use lived experience, community insight, and independent challenge to influence decisions, improve services, and ensure people are heard. I’m driven by a belief that everyone deserves safe, fair, and accessible care, and that real change happens when the public voice is at the table and taken seriously.

I’m also currently studying a diploma in Aesthetics. When I’m qualified, I hope to be able to help people with cleft palates or other facial issues or scarring. It’s important to me to support people who might otherwise struggle to access the help they need. I really agree with the sentiment that the health and care system works best when it truly listens to the people it serves.