A LEIGH MP has criticised the under-use of the town's infirmary which is putting pressure on beds at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Andy Burnham claims the NHS should expand its capacity in Leigh to ease demand on beds at NHS hospitals in Bolton and Wigan.

Government rules states that the NHS will work closely with the private sector to reduce waiting lists at hospitals. But Mr Burnham claims some towns such as Leigh have a lack of private hospitals.

As a member of the Commons Health Select Committee, Mr Burnham said that the uneven distribution of private care will lead to "disparities" in waiting lists.

In the South-east, 3,294 patients have been treated under the private sector agreement.

Yet in the North-west, only 444 have been treated, the MP claims.

Mr Burnham said: "The committee's report backs up the argument for a new diagnostic and treatment centre in places like Leigh.

"We concluded that the NHS needs more capacity of its own to drive down waiting lists and that areas like our's, where there is little private sector capacity, should be put at the head of the queue.

"Leigh Infirmary is an excellent site and well-located to serve a wide area, but it is being under-used at the moment. At a time when the NHS is looking to expand its capacity, it would make great sense to make more use of Leigh."