BOLTON health bosses have been given £900,000 to improve services for the mentally ill. A 15-bed high dependency rehabilitation unit will be built on the Bolton General site and will open in August.

It is part of the hospital's plans to overhaul and improve services for mental health patients.

Funding was approved by the North West Regional Health Authority and now the Hospitals Trust is waiting to hear if its plans to further boost services are successful.

Future plans include the development of a six-bed intensive care unit and a 28-bed acute ward.

Wigan and Bolton Health Authority has already funded a part-time specialist consultant's post in substance abuse and a fifth full-time consultant in the mental health directorate.

This year it has approved funding of £680,000 to develop community-based mental health teams.

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