THE introduction of a European single currency would cost the Royal Bolton Hospital more than £64,000.

Research by the town's NHS Trust shows that it would take one person nearly five-and-a-half years to implement the changes, should the people of the UK vote in favour of the Euro in a referendum.

If the pound was scrapped, the hospital would need to up-date computers, vending machines and financial reports and transactions.

Money will have to be spent on informing staff, patients, visitors, suppliers and customers of its plans to adopt the Euro, using all sorts of media, from leaflets to Braille.

The Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust decided earlier this year it should start a Euro Changeover Plan to be put into action in the next few years.

Barbara Peacock, chairman, said at a Trust board meeting: "If the outcome of a referendum is in favour of the Euro, we shall be ready.

"We have no choice and will do what we have to do."

Mike Owen, acting director of finance, said the figure reached for implementation was an estimate and would rise considerably to include the cost of employing people to carry out the changes.

He said: "It will need a big team to implement changes. We estimate it would take one person five years to carry them out, some trusts have said it would take them between 11 and 30 years."

It was made clear at the meeting that no money would be spent on the transition to the Euro unless there was a vote in favour of a single currency in a referendum.

Conservative councillor John Walsh, who represents Astley Bridge, said he was angered that the hospital had been forced to take time to plan for a change which may never happen.

He said: "The final figure for a transition could be much higher than £64,000.

"Quite frankly, I think it is an appalling waste of public money.

"The Government has no mandate to implement the Euro and I don't think the public will ever support it. The Government should not be causing public bodies to spend public money on this. It's a charade."

Gary Titley, one of 10 MEPs representing the North-west, said the time is not right for the Euro at the moment, but supports it in principal.

He said: "This figure shows implementing the single currency would cost considerably less than dealing with the Millennium bug. The long-term benefits of the Euro would outweigh the costs."

If the pound is scrapped the Trust's Euro Project Team estimate there would be a transitional period of 12 months when sterling would be gradually phased out.