CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Fairfield's Special Care Baby Unit will have to wait three months before they can make their views officially known.

The Strategic Health Authority (SHA) approved the plans to restructure children's health services at a board meeting in Manchester last Thursday.

Its recommendations will now be subject to a three-month public consultation period -- starting in October.

The delay is to give health officials time to finalise the proposals which include the closure of the baby unit. It will also bring an end to 24-hour paediatric care at Fairfield Hospital, replaced by a midwifery-led unit.

Once the consultation starts, the public, hospital staff and stakeholders will be invited to write to Bury Primary Care Trust (PCT), giving their views and putting forward ideas.

A SHA spokesman said: "Members of the public will be able to write with their views and we are continually working to inform the public of the proposals in their entirety.

"More than 6,500 parents, children and hospital staff have already given their input to the developments and we will continue this to give people a deeper understanding of what is being discussed."

SHA medical director, Dr Chris Harrison, said: "The need to redesign our children's service is clear. These proposals, the culmination of intensive consultation and debate among leading paediatric carers, gives us a realistic chance of delivering appropriate children's care in the 21st century.

He added: "Everyone can now have their say in the public consultation process."

Bury PCT has set up a hotline for further information on 0161 762 3161. For all the details on the proposals so far, visit www.burypct.nhs.uk/564.html