The new man in charge of Bradford's hospitals wants the public to contact him directly to tell him how services should be shaped over the next five years.

Miles Scott wants everyone to help draw up a blueprint for the future of Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital.

Mr Scott, who took up his role as chief executive of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust earlier this year, has set himself the task of compiling a strategy document to be published in December which will lay out the future direction of the Trust over the next three to five years.

Questionnaires have already been circulated to hospital staff asking them what they would like to see the Trust improve, develop and retain. The board of governors has also been involved.

But Mr Scott is keen to get the public's views and will be asking them, through local neighbourhood forums, what they think. He has also invited people to e-mail him directly with their ideas.

"This is a genuine attempt to find out what people think," he said. "This corporate strategy will give a clear sense of direction and the process of compiling it is as important as the outcome.

"I could probably do it on my own but it would have no impact because other people would not own it. So what we are doing is using this as an opportunity to involve our staff and the public.

"I want to be able to demonstrate the people of Bradford have made a difference."

The plan will include how:

l the Trust plans to improve the patient environment and experience

l it will ensure patient safety

l services will be provided

l the future of teaching and research and development will work.

"There are a number of obvious priorities," said Mr Scott. "I want to make sure we ring-fence enough money to upgrade facilities, particularly at BRI, to make the 1930s buildings are suitable for use in the 21st century.

"This includes making sure there are enough single rooms, enough room for equipment and a decent, bright environment.

"There are some areas where we need to make sure we have the right hi-tech things in the right place, for example renal services at St Luke's. It is in the wrong place and we need to find a way to bring it to BRI and use the first-class accommodation in the Horton Wing for something else.

"Teaching and research is a high priority. We have some exciting plans for Field House, refurbishing it into a teaching facility, including a lecture theatre. Temple Bank House, which has been unused for ten years, will be refurbished for research and development activity."

He said the continual development of specialist services, such as cochlear implants for the profoundly deaf and coronary angioplasty (a non-surgical alternative to by-pass surgery) would be high priorities.

St Luke's, he said, had a bright future, and would increasingly be used as a day treatment centre for outpatients needing therapy and rehabilitation services

"The future for St Luke's is developing the Horton Wing," he said.

"The rest of the accommodation is not really up to the job of 21st century health care. The few services that are still there we need to re-provide."

To have your say, e-mail Mr Scott at miles.scott@bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk or write to him at Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, BD9 6RJ.