The private ward at Airedale Hospital has reopened following a major facelift.

The ward now features 11 fully refurbished suites, modern bedroom furniture, new en-suite bathrooms, direct dial telephones and flatscreen TVs with freeview.

A private lounge area with adjoining terrace has also been refurbished.

In addition, there is 24-hour specialist medical and surgical cover and support with an on-site intensive care and high dependency unit.

And patients can choose from an extended healthy choice menu and have access to a hostess service throughout their stay.

A spokesman said: "The cost of the refurbishment has been met entirely from income from private care - the ward does not divert funds from the NHS.

"In fact, private patients bring extra income for the hospital over and above the cost of providing the service and facilities and staff are additional to NHS resources."

Patient Valerie Hayhurst, 77, has been staying on the ward following a hip replacement operation. She said: "Airedale private ward was recommended to me and I prefer to be in a general hospital with the safety back up, particularly at my age and with the type of operation I was having.

"You feel whatever emergency you might have you can just press a button and get help from the experts. The ward is lovely and they have looked after me so well."

Dale Walsh, 41, from Haworth, is receiving traction treatment on the ward after an accident.

He said: "I'm in a medical scheme at Timothy Taylor's brewery where I work and so I have been able to get my private care here at my local hospital. The staff have been great and can't do enough for you."

Joanne Greenwood, private patient co-ordinator at Airedale NHS Trust, said: "We are so proud of our new ward and our first patients have been delighted - all the feedback has been really positive."

Paxton Dewar, consultant surgeon and commissioning director with the trust, said: "These excellent new facilities mean we can now offer top-of-the-range private care for patients who want to be treated locally in a personal, expert and safe setting."