MOVES to revamp services for the elderly mentally ill have been welcomed by Bolton hospital bosses - with a note of caution.

As reported in the BEN, Wigan and Bolton Health Authority will be investing £600,000 over three years to give services for these patients a new look.

Bolton Hospitals Trust, which has been given the job of providing the service, had previously drawn up plans costing £1.1 million.

At trust meeting, non-executive director Vic Peel said: "It is important to have on record that it is the health authority which set out the model of service it wanted to provide and we said how much it would cost to deliver that service.

"Now we are being told there's only half the money available. It is not the trust saying certain developments will not be possible."

Beverley Andrew, trust director of operations, expected building work on the new residential and elderly care facility on the Hulton Hospital site to begin in March or April next year.

From April this year , the authority's initial investment of £200,000 is expected to focus on improving services within the community.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.