HEALTH bosses have expressed concern over the operation of a private "home help" service within an NHS clinic. Bolton Community Healthcare Trust has started its own income-generating home care service called Optimum Home Care. The service is being tested in Westhoughton, Ladybridge, Heaton and Lostock and the charges made are £6 per hour for a minimum two-hour visit and £7.50 an hour for a one-hour visit.

The service was recently featured in a copy of a carers' magazine. The trust makes clear it is a private service and stipulates all carers are police checked and have to complete training on manual handling, food hygiene, health and safety, personal care and cleaning duties.

The service is not available to those with severe psychiatric conditions or challenging behaviour.

Mike Ruane, chief executive of Wigan and Bolton Health Authority, said: "We are concerned that this service could lead to public confusion.

"It is run within an NHS facility and the telephone number given is that of Westhoughton Clinic.

"As this service is targeted at vulnerable client groups, then there could quite feasibly be some confusion within their minds when charges are then made for the services provided."

But Mr Patrick Wallace, chief executive of Bolton Community Healthcare Trust, said: "Optimum Home Care operates on an entirely self-funded basis covering all costs and uses no Health Service resources.

"This is a service which we ethically feel committed to providing when the alternative of leaving patients with no service is not something caring staff feel easy about."

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