PATIENTS and visitors to Fairfield General Hospital are being asked how to best to improve the accident and emergency department.

The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which is responsible for the Rochdale Old Road complex, has been given £10,000 from the national Patient Experience Fund to spend on the department.

The same amount has also been awarded to all hospitals within the trust, including North Manchester General.

Neil Clark, the trust's modernisation programme manager, said: "A great deal can be done quite easily to improve patients' experiences of accident and emergency. We know that as well as reducing the amount of waiting time, there are a lot of other areas where patients want to see changes.

"The best way of making sure we make the changes that mean the most to our patients, staff and visitors is by asking them what needs to be done. We are especially interested to hear from patients and carers who have had a recent experience of accident and emergency. However, anyone is welcome to get in touch for a confidential and informal chat or drop us a line."

The £10,000 is designed to improve one of four areas: better facilities for children; communications between patient and staff; patient environment; information for patients.

Feedback from the exercise will also be used when considering future improvements to the department.

Suggestions for casualty's department at Fairfield General Hospital and North Manchester should be addressed to Alex Barker, clinical nurse manager for Accident and Emergency and Medical Assessment Unite, North Manchester General Hospital, Eastern Block, Delaunays Road, Crumpsall, Manchester, M8 5RB ,telephone 720 4786.