DIFFICULT decisions in the way Fairfield General Hospital operates in the future will have to be made.

That was the message from health bosses to councillors and members of the public amid speculation and rumour that the Rochdale Old Road hospital is to lose vital services.

But the chief executive of the Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust, Chris Appleby, and Tom Wilders the trust's director for strategic planning, stressed that no changes to the hospital's services would be made without the public, patients and staff having a say in the decision-making process.

The two executives were invited to speak at a meeting of Bury Council's healthier and safer communities scrutiny commission.

Mr Wilders said hospitals had no option but to change the way they operate in light of new Government legislation and other pressures.

He said: "I could say everything is alright and stay as we are. But knowing what we know about the NHS we cannot do that. We need to change the way we work to address a number of issues and problems.

"We know Fairfield General is going to face issues which we have to respond to and ensure we can deliver the best possible care.

"The working directive is going to hit us, there will be strict limits on how many hours are worked. And the trust already faces problems in delivering services due to staff shortages. This has led to unplanned service closures.

But Mr Wilders added: "There is no master plan on how to develop services but to open up discussion."

Although no firm proposals were put to councillors, Mr Appleby admitted that staff shortages and the working time directive could mean that some services within trust hospitals may have to be transferred.

"There has to be some movement of services. There has to be a balancing act between services for local people and specialised services which people travel for," said Mr Appleby. "But services do not have to go to, for example North Manchester General, it can be Fairfield."

Mr Appleby concluded: "We want a debate about services and how best to provide those services."

Options in the way services at Fairfield Hospital are run will soon be put out to consultation.