HEALTH chiefs in Bury are considering closing Fairfield Day Hospital.

Up to 70 elderly patients receive medical and social care treatments at the outpatient facility, which stands in the grounds of Fairfield General Hospital.

But The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, says most patients need only social care which maintstream hospitals are not suited to provide.

Stephen Fray, the trust's divisional director for medicine, said hospital facilities should only be used for treatment which can only be provided in hospitals.

But he said no decision will be made until discussions have been held with staff and patients.