CONTROVERSIAL proposals to axe Fairfield's special care baby unit have been withdrawn - for now.

In an astonishing U-turn, health chiefs scrapped the plans to cut women's and children's services, saying more work needed to be done and accepting that the present timetable for reform could not be met.

But they say that "amended and developed" proposals for rationalisation will be tabled next summer and put out to public consultation.

The move comes just two weeks after nearly 3,000 protesters marched through Bury town centre, and only days after the Bury's two MPs, Ivan Lewis and David Chaytor, met with Dr Neil Goodwin, the chief executive of the Strategic Health Authority (SHA), the body responsible for putting the proposals forward.

The SHA, however, maintain that their U-turn was due to the publication of the new National Service Framework for Childrens, Young People's and Maternity Services - a document which was drawn up after the local proposals were published. They say they now need to consider the implications of the guidelines before going ahead with any local changes.

Campaigning group Fairfield Baby Lifeline Society (FBLS) greeted the news cautiously, claiming that the "stay of execution" was won as a direct result of "people power" and pressure from the town's MPs.

Dr Said Hany, FBLS chairman, told the Bury Times: "This is great news for Bury - for the time being.

"It is the result of the powerful campaign against the proposal by the people of Bury and the surrounding areas, headed by Fairfield Baby Lifeline Society "Babies First" campaign, and effectively supported by their MPs and the council."

But he added sceptically: "It is also interesting that the deferral has been timed for after the General Election. We wonder if this has become a political issue and, if that is the case, then we consider this as dirty politics, which is not in the interest of the people of Bury."

The SHA, however, insisted that the extra time will allow more people - particularly users of the health service and clinicians - to become involved in reconsidering the proposals.

Peter Rowe, chairman of the Children's and Young People's Network, said: "The work we have undertaken to involve children, young people, their families, and doctors and nurses in the planning of change has been acknowledged to be both innovative and comprehensive.

"We welcome the opportunity which this extra time brings to continue the debate and in particular to look at the reform of maternity services and the impact of the new National Service Framework."

Dr Neil Goodwin, SHA chief executive, stressed: "The need for reform of our children's services remains and the proposals, as amended and developed, will still be put before the public.

"But the planned timescale is not achievable. The process is to be extended to enable more work to take place with a view to holding the formal consultation in the summer of 2005."

Dr Hany said FBLS believed in modernising the health services in Bury, but vehemently objected to the closure of the special care baby unit or any major changes to the childrens ward and maternity services at Fairfield.

He concluded: "Deferring the consultation until next summer will not erode our campaign efforts, nor will it dissolve the public interest. We will keep up the pressure on all concerned to withdraw the proposal, and do more constructive and evidence-based work on it. The "Babies First" campaign will go on."

Both Bury North MP David Chaytor and Bury South MP Ivan Lewis have welcomed the news.

Mr Chaytor commented: "I am absolutely delighted; it is to the SHA's credit that it has acknowledged the criticism made. The public want the evidence for the proposals on the table first before the decision is taken.

"It is also credit to the Fairfield Baby Lifeline Society and the people of Bury for mounting such an effective campaign so quickly."

Mr Chaytor described the publication of the new national framework, on which he raised questions in the House of Commons last week, as "timely."

"This is a powerful argument for revisiting the proposals," he said. "This is a victory in round one but there is still a long way to go. There is an urgent need to improve and we want children's services to be based on the best model."

Mr Lewis said the move by the SHA was a victory for "people power."

"This is stage one and now is the time to properly engage parents, medics and the local community."