PEOPLE living in the borough are being urged to play their part in ensuring the local NHS has a healthy future.

The NHS in the north east of Greater Manchester, which includes Bury, is planning a shake-up in the way health services are delivered.

Now health bosses are urging people to speak up and influence the way they receive health care.

The "Have Your Say" campaign follows the publication of the document "Emerging Vision for Future Health Services" last year which outlined the view of patients on the future of NHS.

The document is now being used to open up the debate further before putting out firm proposals to public consultation later this year. The local health authority, Bury Primary Care Trust (PCT), will also be holding two public meetings.

The latest shake-up of health services is separate from the ongoing review of women's and children's services, which caused an outcry in Bury when it was announced that Fairfield General's special care baby unit could be axed.

Suggestions so far include providing:

More services closer to home, which could mean moving hospital services, such as diagnostic tests out of hospitals, into the community.

More choice for patients as to where they are treated.

Co-ordinated care from GP referral to treatment.

Specialist services across hospital sites under the Pennine Acute Trust, which includes Fairfield Hospital.

The changes are designed to meet the new European working time directive and to provide "safe" services. Health directors say that keeping the service as it is will ultimately lead to the closure of wards, overstretched intensive care facilities, difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff.

Following the consultation, Bury PCT will detail how it will develop services over the next three to five years. And health bosses insist that the public can influence the way forward by getting involved at this stage and during the formal consultation.

Mrs Anne Coates, director of strategy and service development, said: "It is so important to us that there is an opportunity for the people of Bury to have their say in the way that health is delivered. We need to hear from you by the end of March.

"We are trying a range of methods in an attempt to reach as many residents as possible and we have made a particular effort to ensure that residents with a disability or whose first language is not English can still get involved. Or if you'd like us to come and talk to community groups, just call us, we'll be there."

Dr Derek Fletcher, chairman of the professional executive committee of Bury PCT, said: "I think that safe and effective services for Bury residents are vitally important and care should be delivered as close to patients' homes as possible. If we give as many people as possible the knowledge and skills then they will be able to tackle any minor health problems."

Public meetings will be held on Monday, March 21 at the Elizabethan Suite in Bury Town Hall at 7pm, and on Thursday, March 31 at the Longfield Suite in Prestwich at 2pm. For more information, ring 655 1712.