The number of A&E visits from Bury patients jumped up by 12.3 per cent in the space of a year, fresh figures show.

Data in a council report reveal there were 6,479 A&E attendances from patients registered in Bury in February this year.

This figure is 714 more than the 5,765 visits in February last year.

And the number of 12-hour waits was 583 in February, compared to 399 in the same month last year (46 per cent rise), although it was less than the 766 waits in January.  

A Bury Integrated Care Partnership report, prepared ahead of a meeting last week, said: "A&E attendances remain high, however the A&E four hour performance improved, increasing by 0.9 per cent in February and a decreased number of patients experiencing 12-hour waits.

"The proportion of adult attendances increased to 75 per cent of attendances this year compared with 74 per cent in February last year."

The performance of other areas has improved though.

Elective care waits have slightly decreased, with 31,650 patients currently waiting.

Patients waiting more than 78 weeks decreased by 15.8 per cent in January compared to December, with 32 patients remaining.

The cancer 28 day performance has decreased by 6.6 per cent on performance in December. But there were 97 more referrals were received in January to December.

The report added: "A&E attendances for mental health conditions have stayed static in the last few months, however these decreased in February to 210 from 231 in January."

The figures come after Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Fairfield General Hospital, said in February that work to extend its A&E department is "progressing well".

Expansion works, which are taking place over a two-year period, include plans for a new patient transfer area for ambulance, rapid assessment bays, and an increase in the number of resuscitation unit.

The works will also see the addition of more major injury cubicles and mental health suites.

Previous reports suggest the new facility will cost £2.8m and will treat around 30,000 patients per year, up from the current 17,000 urgent care patients.

The current A&E has previously been described as small and overcrowded with an improved facility set to alleviate pressure.

The A&E department is staying open during the work.