THE borough's accident and emergency unit has successfully relocated to Fairfield Hospital.

The transfer of the department took place in the early hours of Wednesday (Sept 19).

Sandra Pumford, who was one of the commissioning team overlooking the move, said: "Everything went smoothly. Only one person went to the wrong site. Now it is a case of settling in, but the feedback I have had from the medical staff is that the new department is wonderful."

Around 600 staff and equipment had moved to new premises at Fairfield Hospital by 2am.

The transfer to the Rochdale Old Road-based complex marks the final stages of the plan to centralise the borough's hospital services and completely shut down Bury General Hospital.

It is due to close some time in October after the acute medical wards and the remaining outpatient services have been transferred.

Building work to accommodate the transfer started two years ago at a cost of £24 million, £4.5 million of which has been spent on the new accident and emergency department.