The hospital has its origins in the Bradford Public Dispensary founded in 1825.

[1] It opened at Darley Street in 1827 and moved to Westgate as the Bradford Infirmary in 1843.

[2] In December 1882 the infirmary staff responded to the Newlands Mill chimney collapse which resulted in the loss of 54 lives, mostly young girls and boys.

[2] The hospital was noted for being a pioneer in the field of chemotherapy under Professor Robert Turner and George Whyte-Watson in the 1950s.

[5][6] Specialist services include support from the Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Service for young children and adults that have a Cochlear implants.