As the Government plans to combine services, the heath care staff fears that there would be job cuts.

According to the Unions, the district nurses, health visitors and school nurses who are the staff of NHS are concerned about their future.

The government has told NHS Bolton, the primary trust care, to generate a greater separation between the commissioning side of the organization which buys and chooses services and the provider part which delivers some of them.

Services would be combining with the organizations such as the Royal Bolton Hospital, Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Community Trust and Bolton Council by the PCT. Majority of the NHS Bolton's1,870 staff would be affected by this change and it may also include support staff in IT and human resources.

"The majority of staff are worried about what impact the integration with a new partner will have on job security. We welcome the fact that the NHS Bolton management have been willing to discuss the proposals with the unions and listen to our views. We also wish to see jobs and services stay within the NHS", said a spokesperson for NHS Bolton Staffside.