A ward at Wharfedale Hospital is on a shortlist for closure – raising fears for the future of the whole hospital.

Bosses at the Otley hospital have been accused of trying to bury bad news by planning to announce their decision during the bank holiday period, and a local MP is demanding reassurances over the ward’s future.

Meanwhile, a row broke out at Airedale General Hospital, which serves Ilkley patients, after it was disclosed that non-executive directors were given a 100 per cent pay increase earlier this year.

Up to 80 jobs are under threat at the hospital as it battles to save £11 million.

Unions said they had asked the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust to overturn the fees increase but this had been rejected.

Staff at Wharfedale were told last Wednesday that Ward 1, an elderly care ward, could be closed as part of cost-cutting measures by Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust.

The trust, which must save £60 million, warned in March that it would need to provide services from fewer wards and cut its workforce by 700.

A source with connections at Wharfedale Hospital, who asked not to be named, said: “The staff were visited by very senior management and informed that Ward 1 was on the shortlist to be closed.

“They were told they would be informed of the decision before the end of the month. With several bank holidays, Easter holidays and so on, this seems like a good time to bury bad news.

“This information was given out despite the fact that only three weeks ago the staff council had visited to reassure staff that discus-sions had taken place and that the hospital would maintain its status quo."

Read more on this story in the Gazette & Observer.