HEALTH chiefs in Bury have approved plans to close Bury General Hospital and transfer services to one super-site in the town.

The decision to move Bury's hospital services to Fairfield General Hospital follows a review of services by Health Authority.

After a unanimous vote in favour of the closure, the Bury and Rochdale Health Authority last night rubber-stamped the plans, despite a poor response from the public during a three month consultation period.

But despite the lack of feedback from local people, Mr Richard Popplewell, chief executive of Bury and Rochdale Health Authority, said there was still enough support to back the move, as long as issues such as site access and bed numbers were kept under review.

He said: "During the consultation, the number of written responses received from the public was small, with the number of for and against the proposals very close. "We acknowledge the views of some local people, who are against the proposals.

"But on balance we received many positive responses and we, like the Bury Health Care NHS Trust and Bury CHC, believe the development and transfer of services to Fairfield Hospital must go ahead if Bury's hospital services are to be maintained and improved."

Health chiefs have met with transport and local authority representatives to discuss the public access aspect.

The final stage of the plan is for Bury Healthcare NHS Trust to receive formal approval of the Business Case before attempts are made to secure funding for the scheme.

Once approved, the plans will see the closure of the 92-year-old Bury General Hospital and the development of an improved, flexible building at the Fairfield site on Rochdale Old Road. Some medical services will be shared between the Bury and Rochdale Health Care Trusts.

Services such as accident and emergency, intensive care, general medicine and surgery plus care of the elderly, maternity and paediatrics will be provided at main sites in Bury and Rochdale. Services shared between the two sites may include cardiology, cancer treatment, rheumatology, rehabilitation, renal services and urology.

During the consultation period, which began in April, a series of public meetings were held throughout the borough and plans distributed to doctors' surgeries, voluntary groups, libraries, MPs and the local authority.

Work on the new super-hospital is expected to begin in April 1999, continuing into 2002.

Services will be gradually relocated over a period of time.

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