SWEEPING change is needed in Bolton to improve services in one of the most demanding areas of child health care.

A review has uncovered divisions within child and teenage mental health services, which are provided by two separate trusts.

At a meeting of Wigan and Bolton Health Authority, Director of Commissioning Brenda O'Driscoll said: "There's still a strong feeling from the community and hospitals trust that the service would be better organised if run by the one trust."

But Mike Chapman, who sat on the health authority at the time of the service split, said: "When the trusts were originally set up, some of us had an input into this and we met all the paediatricians involved.

"At that time it was the consultants themselves who wanted the split between the two trusts and now they are coming back saying the opposite. I for one feel somewhat aggrieved about that."

Mr Chapman, headteacher at Brandwood County Primary School, went on: "I know from discussions within education that people are desperate to have more involvement in the child psychology service and I feel that people working in this field have a real contribution to make in providing a better service for children in this town."

Mrs Lene Pickford, Chairman of the Health Authority, said: "Whatever we do and whatever we say we must ensure that the only possible winners are the children of Wigan and Bolton.

"If we do not improve the service then this review and the work done so far has all been for nothing."

Mr John Brunt, Chief Executive of Bolton Hospitals Trust, one of the main providers of child and adolescent services in Bolton, said: "The Child Mental Health Strategy, which involves people from all areas, agreed two years ago on a three year investment programme and one area we agreed needed looking at was psychology.

"I personally think we have made great progress.

"On the issue of the split, the hospitals trust has always wanted a single, fully integrated service and all the clinicians involved wanted that too."

Mr Patrick Wallace, Chief Executive of Bolton Community Trust, said he was not aware of any major problems associated with the management of the service.

"The difficulties we are aware of arise from the need for investment," he said.

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