Health bosses were today discussing how many beds need to be provided for adult mental health in-patients at a new facility in Airedale.

A report before Bradford District Care Trust board says there are fears that the planned 42 beds to be provided over two wards will not be enough and could lead to a "high likelihood risk of bed shortage".

It stems from uncertainty around the number of beds required by Airedale Primary Care Trust (PCT).

The report says proposals include 13 beds for Airedale adult clients but the service development group set up to put together a business case for the new unit says it believes the minimum number of beds required for the Airedale population is 18.

However, it is thought the board will be told Airedale PCT has now decided to commission 22 beds instead of 13.

There are 63 beds in three wards at Airedale General Hospital for mental health patients.

One is for elderly service users. These places will be axed when plans for a new unit are finalised.

The care trust, which is responsible for mental health services in Bradford and Airedale, launched a public consultation on how services should be re-provided following a damning report by the Mental Health Act Commission, which claimed a culture of attempted suicide by hanging had developed on one of the wards.

It also highlighted potential risk areas such as window catches and curtain wire which could be used as ligature points.

Five mental health patients have also committed suicide by leaving the wards undetected, several throwing themselves in front of trains on the nearby Airedale line.

Following consultations it was decided that the new unit should be on the Airedale General Hospital site, but not part of the main complex.

"Jointly with Airedale Hospital NHS Trust, we have since identified an area for development within the boundaries of the hospital site," said Chris Bielby, Bradford District Care Trust's director of adult mental health services.

Once the business case and the number of beds to be provided has been finalised it will be sent to West Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority for their consideration and approval.