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Time of change

12/12/2006

THE major changes announced by the joint committee of local primary care trusts on Friday...

• The total of 13 hospitals in the region with beds for babies and children has been cut to eight hospitals.

• Three super centres treating the most seriously ill babies will be based at the Royal Oldham Hospital, the Royal Bolton Hospital and St Mary's, Manchester.

• Maternity services will remain at Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, Wythenshawe, North Manchester, Tameside and Wigan.

• Under the new plans, Rochdale Infirmary will NOT provide maternity services, neo-natal services or children's in-patient surgery.

• Rochdale Infirmary will STILL offer ante-natal and post-natal services and children's day case surgery.

• Patients needing gynaecological out-patients, gynaecological in-patient surgery and child and adolescent mental health services can STILL access them at the Infirmary.

• A new children's accident and emergency observation and assessment unit will be developed at the Infirmary by 2011.

• The changes will be in place by 2011 and will cost about £60M to establish the units, and £10M a year to run. Health bosses have also committed £25M to improve community care.

As part of separate proposals, there are plans for a cardiac centre of excellence at the Infirmary.