NURSING staff in Bolton have accepted a pay rise of 3.3 per cent. The settlement is made up of a 2pc national award and 1.3pc agreed locally. The news was given at the annual public meeting of Bolton Community Health Trust when plans for the year were unveiled.

A new primary care health centre at Pikes Lane, Deane, and the development of alternative treatments such as osteopathy were highlighted as two main plans for the next year.

Announcing the pay settlement, chief executive Patrick Wallace said: "It is in the middle of the range of current settlements and I think, and I think our staff think, it's respectable."

Mr Wallace said the pay deal was recognition of the efficient performance of staff during the year which had seen them treat 12,160 more patients than the target set by Wigan and Bolton Health Authority.

Trust chairman Mrs Vivien Rink also pledged to improve services. The annual report revealed they had received 77 complimentary letters and 83 complaints - mainly about waiting times for physiotherapy and clinical psychology services.

Bolton Community Health Council chairman John Seddon welcomed the report and the plans.

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