MATERNITY services in Bury and Rochdale are set to merge.

Health bosses at Bury Health Care NHS Trust, responsible for running local hospitals, have just been given the go-ahead to appoint two new consultants and support teams for the obstetrics and gynaecology departments.

Now hospital managers are planning to improve and develop services by linking up with Rochdale trust.

Mr Phillip Bacon, Bury trust chief executive, explained that the plans had just been approved and details have still to be finalised, but stressed that there was no suggestion of Bury women travelling to Rochdale for treatment.

"It is a case of organising the medical staff between the two trusts to provide a better level of care," said Mr Bacon.

"It is very good news that we can now go ahead and appoint two new consultants to help improve and develop the services we offer."

Last year health bosses were criticised for the controversial closing of maternity ward 18 at Fairfield General Hospital after claims were made about mums being sent home early because of staff shortages.

Health watchdogs, who campaigned to save ward 18, welcomed the news but said they were disappointed it was not be up and running before this new year.

Mr Gerry Mills, Community Health Council (CHC) chairman, said: "The unification of services between Rochdale and Bury will certainly help to improve the services locally. We were hoping that instead of having two posts and support teams to be shared between the two towns there would be two teams for each town."

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