** About Us **
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust became one of the first Foundation Trusts in April 2004. A year earlier we became a teaching hospital to train the next generation of doctors. During this time the NHS has changed and the public now expect ever better services. We have made our hospitals some of the safest in the country. Much of our earlier strategy, developed in 2006, has been delivered almost two years early. We are now looking towards 2015 and are making ambitious plans to remain one of the leading hospital groups in England.
Most people recognise the Foundation Trust through our two hospitals - Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital, where we care for the majority of local people. We also provide many services by a range of health professionals in the community, such as doctors, nurses, midwives and physiotherapists. We provide, these services from many different locations such as GP practices, community hospitals and other neighbouring hospitals in Airedale, Halifax and Huddersfield.
On 1 April 2011 a range of community and intermediate care services were integrated into Bradford Teaching Hospitals. Services which transferred included those delivered from the local community hospitals (Westwood Park and Eccleshill), a range of services delivered by GPs with Special Interest in gynaecology and urology, and services for stroke, TIA, sexual health, heart failure, cardiac rehabilitation, diabetes, parkinson's and haemoglobinopathy.
We are also known for the specialist services we provide for example treating many different types of cancer, using specialist scanners for better investigations, treating children with metabolic problems, people with heart and circulation of blood problems and delivering the only cochlear implant service in Yorkshire for deaf people.
We have historically provided treatment very quickly compared to other hospitals in the country. We have significantly reduced the risk of infection through better facilities such as new wards, ensuring all of our staff are trained and making sure everywhere is thoroughly cleaned.
Over the last few years we have ensured that the hospitals have a healthy bank balance and we are financially viable. We are now able to increase the amount of money we spend on improving our buildings and equipment by reinvesting the surplus we make each year. During this time we have also been able to introduce many new services, employing many new doctors, nurses and other staff who treat patients and at the same time, reducing the cost of administrative and managerial services. We now have an ambitious development plan for the future.
We are delighted that the number of local people who have become members has risen from fewer than 5,000 to more than 50,000 since we became a Foundation Trust. These members have elected our governors to represent them and oversee what we do. Our governors have been recognised nationally for the work they have achieved in Bradford and we are often asked to help others when they apply to become a Foundation Trust.
Since 2003, we have built an excellent reputation for the training of new doctors in partnership with the Universities of Leeds and Bradford. We have built new facilities for those students and have plans to further increase these in the coming years. These facilities benefit all clinicians in training both for their first degree and post-graduate education programmes. This new role for the Foundation Trust came at the same time as developing our reputation in research. The Bradford Institute for Health Research is now attracting increased funding every year for new research.
Our mission is to provide the best quality safe healthcare to the people of Bradford and West Yorkshire. We will secure major advances to future generations through innovation, education and research. In partnership with others we will work to improve the health of local people.
