AN adult psychiatric ward closed last January "for three months" was officially back in action in Tuesday as a child and adolescent mental health facility.
Pennine Care NHS Trust Health bosses were forced to close Ward 31 at Fairfield General in a bid to balance the books. Assurances were given that the ward for "sub acute" patients would reopen within three months.
Bev Worthington, borough director of mental health services in Bury, said: "Initially when we closed the ward we had planned to reopen as a psychiatric ward because we envisaged there would be bed problems. But these did not arise and it gave us an opportunity to use the ward in this way.
"We have two acute psychiatric wards at Fairfield General and the location of Ward 31 is more suited to children as it is near the paediatrics services."
Mrs Worthington said upwards of £100,000 had been spent on the ward.
She added: "This is a real step forward in the provision of services for children and young people. We recognise, and the strategy reflects, that there is still a long way to go."
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