A TOP surgeon has warned that services at Bolton's multi million pound new hospital could be affected by the "overpowering" stench from a neighbouring pig farm.

And he claims cancer patients already feeling sick because of chemotherapy treatment are made worse because of the "appalling and intolerable" smell.

Mr Richard Salem, one of the country's leading authorities on breast cancer treatment, has repeated his demands for action against the swill manufacturer near Bolton General Hospital.

"Quite frankly it is now getting to the stage where services could be threatened by this quite appalling situation.

"At times the smell from this farm is overpowering. I am giving patients chemotherapy, which leads to nauseousness, and this atrocious smell compounds the problem.

"The staff who have come to the General from Bolton Royal Infirmary are quite frankly appalled, as we all are.

"Something has to be done as the situation is quite intolerable," he told a public consultation meeting organised by Bolton Hospitals Trust.

Praising the investment by the Trust in developing a highly specialised, concentrated breast cancer care centre, Mr Salem said the problem from the farm was quickly becoming an over-riding matter of concern for staff at the hospital.

The Hospitals Trust board said they had repeatedly tried to get the local authority to act against the swill manufacturer, Harry Wildman, at Townley's Farm in Minerva Road, Farnworth.

Barbara Peacock, Trust chairman, said: "We shall continue to press the issue in the hope that something can be done.

"I think it would be useful at the end of September, if we do not get a more positive response than we have in the past, that we set up a meeting between ourselves and the relevant people from the local authority."

Beverley Andrew, director of operations, said that when the Trust raised the issue in the past, the council said the swill manufacturer was not in breach of environmental regulations and was unable to take any action.

Steve Maslivec, Bolton Council's head of pollution control, said officers were still investigating complaints about the farm.

Complainants have been asked to compile diaries logging when they find the smell unacceptable.

SInce 1989 there have been 29 complaints about the smell - six of those lodged in the past two months.

Ten years ago Mr Wildman was told to install new equipment for his pig swill process after pollution officers served notice against a sickly sweet smell given off.

Cows and pigs are kept at the farm and muck is spread on the fields.

Smell complaints have been described as "sickly sweet", and like cow manure or pig slurry.

Mr Wildman is currently away from the farm and unavailable for comment.

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