A record number of nurses are applying for paediatric posts at Fairfield Hospital, despite the uncertainty over the future of women and children's services.

Under controversial proposals, the special care baby unit could close and overnight stays for children would end.

Instead it is planned to set up a midwife-led unit and more community-based children's services and increase children's day surgery at the hospital.

But despite the proposed shake-up, bosses at the Pennine Acute Hospitals, responsible for Fairfield Hospital, say they have had a "excellent" response to vacancies.

Anne Marie Smith, the Pennine Acute Trust's clinical nurse manager for children's services, said: "That's a message that we are sending out strongly, because anyone in the NHS will tell you that one of the main risks in review programmes is a drift of staff from units involved until there is clarity on a final decision. We have had applications from both existing and newly-qualified nurses, and that's very reassuring indeed."

The trust has received 32 applications for nine vacancies: three D-grade and six E-grade. The vacancies include 2 E-grade posts at Fairfield, with the others at the other Pennine Acute hospitals including North Manchester.

The clinical nurse manager said: "This is an excellent response illustrating staff recognise the exciting developments which are taking place within children's services in Greater Manchester."

She added: "Several of the applicants have already expressed interest in working at Fairfield - and the advert was run after publication of the paediatric review recommendations.

"It is human nature to focus on what could be transferred, but it's important to remember that the recommendations envisage much paediatric work continuing at Bury, including an increase in day surgery rates."

Senior nurses believe that one of the big attractions is the chance to rotate between Pennine Acute hospitals and gain experience in different working environments, with patients from a variety of backgrounds.