FAIRFIELD Hospital will not lose its accident and emergency department although changes to the way the unit operates cannot be ruled out.

That was the mixed assurance from the Secretary of State for Health, Mr John Reid, in response to fears that trauma services would be transferred from Fairfield to other hospital sites within the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

The minister visited the borough on Friday (Aug 29) as part of a tour of the north west. He addressed more than 30 Labour Party supporters at a special meeting at the Longfield Suite, Prestwich, in the afternoon.

Mr Reid spoke about his party's commitment to the National Health Service and the importance of transforming the body to meet the needs of today's population.

He told the Bury Times: "Decisions affecting the health service need to be made locally and in the interest of patients. I have been told the accident and emergency department will not close, but staff should not be frightened of change which is for the benefit of patients."

In recent months rumours had been circulating about the future of Fairfield's A&E department being kept on the Rochdale Old Road site, although any move had been denied by the Trust.

Mr Reid said he had seen examples where changes to the way departments were run had reduced waiting lists and improved the delivery of services and patient care.

"The people of Bury just need to look at statistics to see the amount of money that is being invested to provide better services for the patient," he said.

Commenting on the Trust's poor one star rating in the recent Commission for Health Improvement inspection, Mr Reid said that such assessments identify areas which hospitals need to address.

"One hospital I visited received a one star rating the first time, but narrowly missed out on the top three star rating this time. This improvement has been made through the staff's own efforts. And they feel great about it."