HIGH levels of harmful emissions were found in wards at the Bradford Royal Infirmary, prompting the hospital to overhaul its car parking system.

The details have been revealed in a planning application to Bradford Council seeking permission for the alterations, which will involve changing the existing car park at the front of the hospital to a 'Zone 1' staff-only car park with a barrier.

It says: "This is in response to an air quality assessment that was undertaken and found high levels of carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide on all wards local to the car park.

"Due to the health risks associated from these fumes, the Trust has decided to reduce vehicle movement in this area by converting it into a barriered carpark."

It adds that a new pay and display car park will be created on Smith Lane, which will provide the spaces lost from the front of the hospital.

Meanwhile, analysis of Estates Returns Information Collection data by Newsquest's Data Investigation Unit found that as of 2017/18, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BTHFT) did not have a Sustainable Development Management Plan, a Carbon Reduction Plan or a Healthy Transport Plan.

Both the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and the Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust were on track to meet carbon reduction targets.

A BTHFT spokesperson said: "In order to improve air quality outside the main hospital entrance off Duckworth Lane, it has been decided to relocate our pay and display car parking area. The spaces will now be for staff only in order to reduce the high turnaround of vehicles, which contributes to high levels of exhaust emissions. Vehicles will now remain parked for much longer periods. Entrance will be a controlled barrier system and the changes will also reduce traffic congestion and improve safety for pedestrians.

“New pay and display parking spaces for patients and visitors are being created at the rear of the hospital, off Smith Lane."

The spokesperson added: “We are committed to becoming more sustainable and caring for the environment to help improve the lives of people in our care, our staff and our local community.

“We are working hard to reduce energy waste and cost across all our hospitals and make our environment greener for everyone.

"Some of our recent schemes include making our plant and machinery more energy efficient, an LED light replacement and control sensor programme, providing electric vehicle charging points and using a waste contractor that sorts and recycles our non-clinical waste, so much less goes to landfill.

“Improving our green credentials not only reduces carbon emissions but also provides an opportunity to secure financial savings, the majority of which are able to be reinvested back into frontline hospital services.

“Our new Sustainable Management Development Plan which will be published soon, sets out our action plan over the next five years.”

The NHS has said it has reduced carbon emissions by 18.5 per cent between 2007 and 2017, and further reductions will be seen due to the NHS Long Term Plan.