HEALTH bosses are to spend £3.3 million on schemes to narrow the health gap between rich and poor.

The amount is included in record funding of £332 million announced by the Government last week for Bury and Rochdale Health Authority next year.

Talks are still going on over where the money will be allocated, but it will continue the work done in the area's Health Action Zone (HAZ).

So far, the HAZ has concentrated on children, the elderly and ethnic groups in the borough's most deprived areas.

Health and social services agencies work together to tackle problems, like bad housing, which can lead to health troubles.

Bury East, for instance, has one of the highest under-16 admission rates for asthma caused by damp homes.

Other HAZ projects are the Smoking Cessation Service and Exercise on Prescription, where those at risk of heart disease are sent by their GPs to local leisure centres.

The cash increase for Bury has been welcomed by David Chaytor, MP for Bury North.

"The new funding will help tackle the health gap between the best and worst off, as well as to make changes to give patients better, faster services," he said.

"I am delighted that Bury is to receive such a large financial boost and am confident that we will continue to see improvements in our health care."