Waiting lists for some operations in Bradford could be wiped out if an innovative new health centre is built.

North Bradford Primary Care Trust is one of ten Trusts in the country which have been given Department of Health backing to work with overseas, private developers and build a new local care centre.

The centre would increase the types of surgery which can be done as day cases. Patients could receive immediate diagnosis for health problems.

Dr Ian Rutter, chief executive of North Bradford PCT, is meeting potential foreign private investors in London today.

The PCT plans to use its own GP specialists, local consultants and private sector staff at the centre, but staff from overseas could be used in areas where there are recruitment problems, such as radiographers and anaesthetists.

Dr Rutter said: "We are looking for an international partner who will work with us to develop a new, dedicated facility at Eccleshill and who will then own and manage the centre.

"Very rigorous standards will be in place to ensure we can offer a high quality service to our patients but we believe developing this centre will give us the flexibility we need to ensure that 80 per cent of our patients can have all diagnostic procedures carried out in one visit to one clinic and leave with a diagnosis of their treatment agreed.

"Maximum waiting times would be two weeks for the diagnostic visit and a further two weeks for treatment."

The PCT already has the use of 1.7 acres on the site of the former Eccleshill School, which was bought by the Newlands Regeneration Board for health facilities.

Work has begun on a new 18-bed hospital, and there are plans for a GP surgery, chemist and out-patients clinic.

Alongside these, the new centre would offer day case surgery and diagnostic work, such as scans. The PCT would commission services from the provider in the same way it would from other NHS and private hospitals in Bradford.

The services would initially be for patients in the north Bradford areas of Shipley, Baildon, Cottingley, Eccleshill and Idle, but the provider could seek more work further afield.

Dr Rutter and David Jackson, chief executive of Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust, have visited similar centres in Chicago, United States and found they had much lower rates of infections and readmissions.

Dr Rutter said: "This development will complement and not detract from any new major hospital in Bradford. All NHS partners in Bradford are working to improve care to the Bradford population.

"We know we will need to make some radical changes to achieve the targets we have set, including having nobody waiting at all by the end of 2004.

"Working to develop this local care centre will be an important part of these developments for the future."