OTLEY’S MP has held a “productive” meeting with health chiefs over the future of Wharfedale Hospital.

Greg Mulholland discussed how empty wards could be used when he met Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s chief executive, Julian Hartley, and the Otley hospital’s head of nursing, Zoe Kirk.

Mr Mulholland has been campaigning to get one of Wharfedale’s two unused wards turned into an intermediate care facility ­— which would allow older patients to stay overnight before they go home.

He said: “I had a productive meeting with Julian and Zoe, both of whom seemed positive about the future of the hospital. It is well equipped and ready to support additional demand for hospital space. I hope the Trust will not hesitate use it.”