Major improvements in care for hospital patients across Bradford are being signalled in a series of reviews which could shake up key services.

Health chiefs claim the initiatives bringing together top specialists from Bradford and Airedale will mean the best in care will become available for all patients and will end competition in the NHS.

Top doctors will look at the district-wide provision of care in fields including cancer, vascular surgery, renal services, cardiology and rheumatology.

They will also examine maternity services including the controversial issue of neonatal intensive care for the sickest newborn babies.

Health bosses say the plans will mean closer working between hospitals which could lead to some integration but say there are no plans for major changes in maternity services.

A huge campaign was mounted a year ago over fears the unit at Airedale General Hospital would be shut and services moved to Bradford.

Dr Dee Kyle, director of public health at Bradford Health Authority, said all the major hospitals would remain in Bradford and Airedale providing a full range of services.

But it was important to look at the provision of key services including maternity to see if there were changes which could be made which would lead to health improvements for all people across the district.

She added: "Whatever decisions are made will be for the clear benefit of patients, not for management or for financial reasons."

Bob Allen, chief executive at Airedale NHS Trust, said sharing top consultants and facilities could lead to significant improvements to make better use of what was available.

He was confident the high-quality record of care provided by neonatal intensive care at Airedale would be recognised and its future was secure.

David Jackson, chief executive of Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "Very simply it's about how can we remodel the service across Bradford so that everybody gets the best possible deal.''

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