BOLTON hospital bosses are planning a range of moves to improve services.

Ann Schenk, Director of Service Development, said new investment would provide better services when she presented the Bolton Hospitals Trust business plan for 1997/98.

At the end of June, a four-bedded high dependency unit iwill open at the Royal Bolton Hospital site.

This will provide a high level of care for patients not needing the intensive care unit.

Waiting lists will be tackled in a series of initiatives which include bringing back patients who have to go outside Bolton for orthopaedic treatment.

Priority, however, will be given to mental health services.

Mrs Shenk said: "We already have guaranteed funding for an intensive care unit for the seriously disturbed mental health patients.

"Once this is developed we will be able to dramatically improve the accommodation for other psychiatric patients on the Royal Bolton Hospital site."

For cancer services, the hospital will have a GAMA camera which will make dramatic improvements to Bolton's diagnostic skills.

It is also planned to develop the hospital's success in dealing with an increasing number of day patients.

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