A DISCUSSION document outlining proposals to shake up paediatric provision in Greater Manchester has sparked off renewed fears for the future of children's ser-vice at Trafford General Hospital.

The document recom-mends a new slimmed-down model for children's health-care services based on three types of units - and warns that the current number of paediatric inpatient units in Greater Manchester cannot be sustained.

And that has raised concerns over the future of the children's ward and special care baby unit at Trafford General Hospital - as revealed in SUM last week. Children's services at the hospital were threatened with closure four years ago because Salford and Trafford Health Authority said the unit was too small. It was only reprieved after a massive campaign spearheaded by the Oliver's Army group.

The discussion document proposes a set up of three types of unit - a local one providing community services; an area-wide specialist unit, and a 'super-specialist' regional centre. Currently 15 trusts provide child health or paediatric services, which the report says vary greatly in their scope.

And the document warns that new European employ-ment legislation will have a major impact. Under the rest time directive, the current level of service could only be maintained if training numbers were doubled - whereas they are likely to fall.

The report says: "The work done is in its early stages but nevertheless a clear message emerges - the current number of paediatric units within Greater Manchester cannot be sustained when new European legislation is fully implemented. The forecasting work indicates that between six to eight 'traditional' 24-hour paediatric units, excluding the children's hospital, can be staffed within Greater Manchester when the legislation is implemented."

The document,commi-ssioned by the chief executives of the six Greater Manchester health authorities,says: "The current configuration of children's secondary health-care services in Greater Manchester will not support the development of best practice in children's care, and furthermore cannot be sustained in light of the significant 'drivers for change', clinical and non clinical, within paediatric and child health services."

"The work done is in its early stages but nevertheless a clear message emerges - the current number of paediatric units within Greater Man-ches-ter cannot be sustained when new European legis-lation is fully implemented."

Oliver's Army founder Angela Gray fears that the services at Trafford General are vulnerable.

She said: "I am devastated - we seem to be back to where we were four years ago. I am very privileged to have been the voice of the community for the past four years and I will fight on to keep the children's services at Trafford General - until the people of Trafford tell me they don't need them any more.

She pledged: "If we get definite proposals to close the services at Trafford General, we will resume the campaign to keep them."

David Cain, chief executive of Trafford Heathcare NHS Trust,said: "Trafford Health-care NHS Trust is looking forward to playing a full part in the further discussions on children's services."

Public consultation on the report is set to get underway in the spring.

cgriffin@messenger.co.uk