One of Bradford’s busiest hospital departments was being formally re-opened today following a major refurbishment designed to improve the patient experience.

Shipley MP Philip Davies will tour the new-look orthopaedic outpatients’ department at Bradford Royal Infirmary as part of a fact-finding visit to the hospital.

As well as formally re-opening the new facilities, he will also receive a first-hand insight into a series of other developments that have taken place over he past 12 months.

These include the new £10 million ward block which opened at the turn of the year, and is set to be followed by another similar block in 2010; the £3 million hi-tech Sovereign lecture theatre opened by Professor Lord Robert Winston in March; and the recent project to modernise out-of-date Nightingale wards and introduce more single-sex facilities.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which manages both BRI and St Luke’s Hospital, has invited all MPs in the Bradford district to see for themselves the progress that is being made.

Trust chief executive Miles Scott said: “As well showing Mr Davies the modern, purpose-designed facilities we have created to enhance patient care, we also look forward to demonstrating the progress we are making in the areas of cleanliness and patient safety.”

The orthopaedic outpatients department now boasts new reception and waiting areas and – thanks to the Friends of BRI charity – a tea bar for the first time for ten years.

Mr Scott added: “The brighter facilities give a more homely feel to one of our busiest clinics and is a good example of the many projects that we have launched to improve the patient experience.”