THE public will have a say in the future of hospital services in Bury, the boss of Fairfield vowed this week.

In an exclusive interview, Chris Appleby, chief executive of The Pennine Acute Hospital NHS Trust, stressed that no "significant" changes would be made without consulting users of the health service.

His comments follow persistent rumours and speculation about the transfer of services from the Rochdale Old Road site to other hospitals within the trust, particularly the accident and emergency unit and children's ward.

The Bury Times has received leaked consultation documents indicating major trauma services could be transferred, leaving Fairfield to deal with lesser injuries. Another document suggested that Bury's children in-service provision could be lost, with the hospital possibly providing "observation and assessment services".

Although Mr Appleby admitted a "strategic review" was taking place, he insisted that it was in its very early stages.

"There are no firm proposals. Some good ideas have been suggested and some bad ones," said Mr Appleby. "But nothing has been decided."

He insisted the talks were taking place because of the many Government-led changes taking place in the health service and to improve patient care, not because of money.

Mr Appleby added: "When proposals are put forward to consultation by Bury Primary Care Trust, we will give the public and clinicians a number of options, and explain to them the reasons behind them. It is up to the public to get involved with the consultation process, because they will have a say in which option is taken up."

The consultation process will be conducted by Bury Primary Care Trust, but would include the local council and other stakeholders such as patients.

Mr Appleby, who also oversees the management of Rochdale Infirmary, North Manchester General Hospital, and The Royal Oldham Hospital, insisted that investment in Fairfield Hospital would grow.

"We will continue to develop services at Fairfield," he affirmed. "We are spending money on a new education centre at the Fairfield site, on pathology services, car park security and there will be long-term investment. Services at Fairfield will be largely in their present form."

Responding to the trust's recent refusal to contribute cash towards the cost of a report into a new emergency access road to Fairfield Hospital, Mr Appleby said he needed more information from Bury Council before he could justify spending money which may be better spent within the trust.