Health chiefs are aiming to publish a three-year plan to allay fears about the future of Wharfedale Hospital.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is also vowing to avoid repeating past mistakes by setting up a stronger ‘watchdog’ forum.

The trust’s director of external affairs, Karl Milner, made the commitments while receiving a 3,000-signature petition from members of the Support Wharfedale Hospital campaign.

Mr Milner also said he had strong hopes for the future – which included getting the recently closed elderly ward, ward one, back in use.

He said: “I think we need to re-establish our relationship with the people of Otley and to get the hospital forum up and working again properly.

“We appreciate that this community loves the hospital, as we do, and if NHS Leeds or another of our health partners decided to put more services in here we would be delighted.

“There are incredible financial pressures at the moment though, so things won’t stay the same, but we’re absolutely committed to this site and are hoping to put forward a three-year plan very soon so people can see exactly what’s happening.”

The petition was started earlier this year when it emerged that the hospital’s remaining elderly ward was in danger of closing. As well as calling for a re-think, it demanded that the trust commit to the hospital’s long-term future.

Campaign founder MP Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) said: “Ward one is still sitting idle which doesn’t make any sense for the hospital or the community, so the challenge is really on NHS Leeds to work with the trust to come up with a viable use.

“I still believe they should look seriously at putting intermediate care beds in there, but whatever happens they can’t have a hospital like this – after all the investment and promises of it being a real community hospital – with a ward sitting empty.”

Campaign co-ordinator Charlie McEwan said: “It’s great to have a positive response from the trust in terms of them wanting to improve the way they consult with the public and get the forum going again to communicate with the community.”