MORE than £1 million is to be spent by the new Bury and Rochdale Health Authority over the next two years, developing Continuing Care. This was said in a report presented at the last meeting of the old Authority.

The agenda item outlined an investment programme and dealt with amendments to an original report on Continuing Care issued last October when issues were raised about eligibility for the funding of care.

In association with both local authorities the new guidelines have been formulated to help clear up the confusion about who is eligible for continuing care, specialist transport services and palliative care.

The changes in criteria will act to extend the number of those eligible for funding.

Says director of quality and operational services Christine Webb: "I am confident that these changes will improve and extend care for those who need it.

"We have made the criteria for funding less restrictive, meaning that patients do not necessarily have to satisfy all the guidelines, only some.

"In palliative care we have made the approach more flexible and have stated that weekly reviews will be made in assessment."

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