ELDERLY patients could be housed in portable huts being installed on the roof of Fairfield Hospital.

Up to 18 patients may be moved into the prefabricated cabins next month.

The installation of the structure, previously used by the Army as a medical centre, has been fiercely criticised by staff at the Rochdale Old Road complex.

One senior nurse told the Bury Times: "It is a farce. To care for elderly and vulnerable patients in a portable cabin on a hospital roof is an unbelievable state of affairs.

"I don't know how they expect to staff these extra wards. We are stretched to the limit already."

The last portable building was lifted into place on Friday morning (Sept 28).

But hospital bosses say it is a "positive step" to cope with any winter pressure on beds.

They deny suggestions there has been any miscalcualtion in the number of wards being transferred from Bury General Hospital. Mr Philip Bacon, chief executive of Bury Health Care NHS Trust, said: "This is a pro-active and interim arrangement to avoid problems this winter.

"It is one of a package of measures designed to help patients until late winter or early spring."

The prefabricated units are situated on the roof adjacent to the hospital's day case unit.

Mr Bacon said the cabins would be equipped like a normal ward, complete with heating. He insisted that more permanent measures would be put in place next year once the local health authority, in line with similar bodies across the country, had assessed how many extra beds were needed.

"We have decided to act now rather than wait for the results of the assessment. We have enlisted the help of Bury Council rather than find ourselves stuck in the middle of winter when it is too late to do anything," said Mr Bacon.

The controversial measure comes just days after the hospital was awarded a commendable two-star ranking in the first NHS performance tables. The top grading is three.

It is also under scrutiny from the Commission for Health Improvement which is assessing facilities at the hospital.

Fairfield General is now the borough's main hospital following the closure of Bury General last month. Millions of pounds have been spent developing the complex to accommodate services from the Walmersley Road site.

In April this year, Prime Minister's wife Cherie Blair performed the official opening of the new maternity unit at Fairfield.

Mr Paul Reynolds, chief officer of the Community Health Council (CHC), said he was not surprised by the use of prefabricated units.

"This has come about as a result of the closure of Florence Nightingale Hospital which treated the elderly. Between 1986 and 1993 Bury lost 275 beds."

He added: "It is not ideal but at least we are getting beds in and these prefabricated units are specialist medical units. Members of the CHC will be visiting them to ensure everything is in order."

A number of beds at Bury Council-run Killelea Residential Home will be used by Bury Health Care NHS Trust to ease pressure on the health service this winter.