IT will be the end of an era for an elderly patients' ward at Bury General Hospital which is to close after more than 80 years.

Foulds Ward, one of the oldest wards in the hospital, is going to move to new premises as part of the £24 million scheme to centralise hospital services onto one super site at Fairfield General.

The 24-bed ward, which is set to close on January 16, was built during the First World War and used as an isolation block. It was not until 1937 that it was used as a medical ward.

Foulds Ward is an acute medical ward specialising in care for the elderly. From January medical resources and staff will be transferred to Ward Two at the Rochdale Old Road site.

Ward Two at Fairfield has been reopened after improvements and an extension. It will be used as an acute ward specialising in elderly patient care.

Hospital managers stressed that there would be no bed losses.

Mr David Clements, hospitals general manager, explained: "We have not made additional beds available nor have we reduced bed numbers. The situation will remain the same."

Ward Two will be run by a specialist in elderly patient care and will be used in the same way.

Mr Clements stressed that no patients would be transferred from Foulds Ward to the new building.

"We will start sending patients to the new ward but we do not want to start transferring patients around. It is not practical or convenient for patients and staff," said Mr Clements.

"We decided to move Foulds Ward because it is one of the oldest buildings and it is time to move to it into the modern era."

Hospital managers announced the closure of the ward several months ago but did a u-turn after consultants told them they would not be held responsible for any problems that arose as a result of the closure.

Now bosses at Bury Health Care NHS Trust, responsible for running local hospitals, say the move will help to provide a better level of care.

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