PSYCHIATRIC patients are to be cared for at Ramsbottom Cottage Hospital. The move is part of a shake up of in-patient mental health services in Bury.

But hospital bosses have stressed that local people will not be at risk from the mainly elderly patients moved to Ramsbottom.

Mr David Clements, hospital manager at Bury Health Care NHS Trust, said: "They will be confused old folk who have been assessed at Fairfield and no longer need medical treatment. They don't need a hospital setting, just tender, loving care.

"These are not patients who are any risk to the community."

Many of the patients are waiting for council funding for a place in a nursing home.

"Ramsbottom is a more suitable place for them. It's a more stable homely environment with a garden," added Mr Clements.

The move will also mean some staff swapping between the two hospitals. A number of psychiatric nurses will move to Ramsbottom while general nurses go to Fairfield.

Psychiatric patients are currently housed in wards 16 and 17 at Fairfield but hospital bosses want to close the wards because they say they are not fit for patients.

The acute mentally ill will now be treated in wards 21b and c with outpatient care continuing on the ground floor of wards 16 and 17.

According to Mr Clements: "The old wards have poor privacy and sanitation and have been condemned by a number of different inspectors. The change will be an immense improvement with much more space."

The shake up will cost around £71,000 with most of the money spent on redecoration and improved security measures.

The disused wards 16 and 17 will probably be used as offices when Bury General is closed and services moved to the Fairfield site.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.