HOSPITAL patients from Bury have become the first in the country to try a new way of taking painkillers.

While receiving treatment, some people are unable to take painkillers in pill form and there can sometimes be health risks associated with intravenous pain relief.

Now, four local hospitals are using a device that allows patients to ingest a Zalviso painkiller using a trailblazing bedside device.

Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust, which runs Fairfield, North Manchester and Royal Oldham hospitals as well as Rochdale Infirmary, is leading the trial.

The device is being used at Royal Oldham and will shortly be brought to North Manchester

A trust spokesman said: "We are the first NHS trust in the UK to use the pioneering technique.

"Using a hand held device eliminates the risks associated with traditional intravenous pain relief."

After the trial, trust chiefs will share its findings with other trusts across the country.

The first NHS patient to use the device in the UK is Peter Fletcher, aged 81, of Oldham, who experienced pan after surgery.

Dr Bhaskar Saha, clinical director and consultant in anaesthetics at the trust, said: "We are very excited by this.

"It is a novel technique that is currently used in Europe and we are proud to be the pioneers in this country.

"This technique is non-invasive and the pain relief provided does not require intravenous access thus reducing patient risks.

"A lot of hard work has been done in providing training, information and having a robust governance strategy in order to introduce this into our hospitals and we expect our patients to benefit from this technique."