ADDITIONAL funding has been secured to help with the building of a new Airedale General Hospital.

An undisclosed amount of funding by The Department for Health and Social Care for 'enabling works' will be released in the 2023/24 financial year as part of the New Hospitals Programme.

It was announced in May that the Steeton hospital had been included in the programme, which will see Airedale Hospital rebuilt by 2030.

The Airedale NHS Foundation Trust has had around 500 responses to a survey inviting members of the public to have their say on plans for the new, replacement hospital.

Foluke Ajayi, Chief Executive of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted to have confirmation of the additional funding which will allow us to progress our plans for our new hospital.

“We are currently at the first stage of this exciting journey, and as part of this a number of key projects have begun, including carrying out some ground investigations, biodiversity surveys and traffic surveys, which will allow us to plan for our next steps.

“We also recently ran a survey to help shape our plans for the new hospital, which received around 500 responses from members of the public. More opportunities will be available for people to share their views as our plans progress, keep an eye on our website for more information Airedale NHS Foundation Trust (airedale-trust.nhs.uk).”

Skipton MP Julian Smith, who has long campaigned for a new hospital, said: “Airedale Hospital being included in the New Hospital Programme is a massive win for residents across the Craven-area.

“Patients deserve access to exceptional care and our fantastic doctors, nurses and NHS staff deserve to work in a world-class environment. “This latest news shows the continued progress the Department is making, and I look forward to further developments in due course.”

Airedale Hospital and the rebuilding programme is on the agenda for Thursday's (December 14)  meeting of the Skipton and Ripon Constituency Committee of North Yorkshire Council. The meeting at the council's Craven office in Belle Vue Square, Skipton is due to start at 10am.