The public is to be asked to join with staff, patients and governors of Bradford’s hospital trust to decide which services will be housed in a new £28 million ward block.

Directors of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust agreed last year, subject to satisfactory financial performance, to construct two new wards and a revised main entrance at Bradford Royal Infirmary from April, 2012.

The ward block, the biggest single project of a capital programme which will see £75million spent on improving patient care in Bradford’s hospitals over the next five years, will house a medical assessment facility for adult and elderly patients to replace wards three and four and one other service – either cancer or a new children’s unit.

The children’s unit would replace wards 16 and 17 and the cancer ward would replace wards seven and 15.

Whichever service is not chosen to be housed in the new ward block will have its current accommodation refurbished.

Dean Johnson, director of planning and performance at the trust, told a board of governors meeting yesterday, when business cases were put forward for each of the services it was “too close to call”.

Therefore, he said the two “equally valid schemes” would be subject to a consultation process which will take place between now and April.

Mr Johnson outlined the consultation to be followed which will include dedicated events where the clinical directorates will be given the opportunity to present their case to the attendees and invite feedback and comments.

At these events there will be the opportunity to comment on the proposals, ask questions of the presenters and leave written comments.

All feedback will then be received by a recommendation panel, which will make a recommendation to the board of directors, who will make the final decision on the use of space.

Full details of the consultation will be published later but timescales will see an event for the public to attend take place at Bradford Royal Infirmary on Monday, March 7 in the lecture theatre.

Events for staff will take place at BRI on Thursday, March 3, and at St Luke’s on Tuesday, March 15.

Information will also be made available on the trust’s internet site to allow the public to review each of the proposals. The board of directors will make a final decision on Wednesday, April 27.