The unit at Rochdale will be replaced with an 'urgent care centre'

The unit at Rochdale Infirmary will be replaced with an "urgent care centre" dealing with less serious casualties.

The provisional decision was made by a joint committee of Primary Care Trusts on Thursday.

Rochdale's Liberal Democrat MP Paul Rowen says he will fight to keep the A&E unit open.

Health bosses say services are currently spread too thinly across north-east Greater Manchester and too much duplication is taking place.

Distances between hospitals in Manchester are significantly smaller than in other parts of the country Medical director Ruth Jameson

But the decision does mean people in the Rochdale area with serious injuries or illness will face longer ambulance journeys to reach casualty.

Rochdale patients needing life-saving emergency treatment will use services at Fairfield Hospital in Bury, the Royal Oldham or North Manchester General Hospital.

On average, an extra one and a half minutes will be added to journeys. But for some it could mean a difference of up to 10 minutes.

More acute A&E cases could be sent to Fairfield Hospital

Medical director Ruth Jameson said: "It's understandable that people are worried about this but it's important that they realise that, whilst time is important, it's time to get to the best place to have a team with appropriate skills to manage you."

She added: "Distances between hospitals in Manchester are significantly smaller than in other parts of the country."

Mr Rowen said: "They have are not considered the options to expand the infirmary.

"Medical services will disappear. Money that Rochdale people have invested will be exported to other towns."

The decision means the Rochdale Infirmary will become one of the country's first Locality Hospitals, which will offer dental, mental and social services on one site.