In-patient services have been suspended at a Bradford community hospital.

The action has been taken to allow for the recruitment of more nurses at Westbourne Green in Eccleshill.

The move comes only days after it was announced that another medical facility in the area – Eccleshill Treatment Centre – faces an uncertain future.

A spokesman for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “Westbourne Green is not closing, we are temporarily suspending the inpatient service while we recruit additional nursing staff to enhance overnight staffing levels.

“Staff at Westbourne Green will temporarily be redeployed to other community wards as well as BRI to support the orthopaedic and care of the elderly wards where there is currently a high level of need.

“There are always empty beds in community hospitals during summer due to lower demand. This year we are consolidating these into one area to optimise staffing levels.”

Meanwhile, a Bradford MP has waded into the row over Eccleshill Treatment Centre, where staff have been told they might not have a job in 12 weeks. when operator Care UK’s contract expires.

George Galloway wants NHS Bradford District Clinical Commissioning Group to look at the issue as a matter of urgency and to see if ‘this drastic action’ is avoidable.

Mr Galloway, Respect MP for Bradford West, said: “The future of the centre – a matter of great concern – has been poorly handled by the CCG.”

The CCG has admitted there is no-one in place to run the service after July 7, but says it is working hard to ensure the facility is not lost.

The centre offers services such as orthopaedics, minor plastic surgery, MRI and CT scanning and X-rays. But there is no guarantee the successful contractor would use the Eccleshill premises. All 80-plus staff have been told they could lose their jobs or be relocated.

Mr Galloway says there is no indication where patients would be treated after closure or if alternative facilities can cope with an increased burden. The CCG says no acceptable bids have been received.

“So we have reluctantly had to end the procurement process without awarding a new contract,” said a spokesman. “We are exploring various options to ensure continuity of services.”

Bradford East MP David Ward has said he aims to meet with CCG representatives in the coming days.