REVELATIONS that elderly people suffering from depression are being treated alongside drug addicts, alcoholics and the seriously mental ill in Royal Bolton Hospital is a cause for great concern.

But the Wigan and Bolton Health Authority are to be commended, not just for calling in an independent panel but for going public with all its comprehensive and often critical findings.

Clearly, the difficulties - especially with staffing - will not be solved overnight and will need time, effort and the additional resources required of the Authority.

But we believe that the long-term health of this psychiatric unit should then be much improved, and that the prognosis for it, and for mental health services generally in Bolton, should be more optimistic.

In the meantime, every support must be given to those with the difficult task of bringing in the improvements.

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