SHORT-TERM beds could be cut as authorities look to save millions of pounds.

Intermediate care, which provides support for a short time to help recover and increases independence, have been earmarked for £2.6m of savings.

Bury currently has 74 beds at community hospitals and intermediate care units. However, no intermediate care is offered at home in the borough.

Julie Gonda, the council's interim executive director of communities and wellbeing, told the strategic commissioning board this week that the system is "too bed based".

Deputy chief officer Margaret O'Dwyer of Bury's clinical commissioning group explained why the health authority is reviewing the service.

She said: "It's not that there isn't capacity in the system in terms of out-of-hospital care. We've not got the right beds or the right skill sets to meet the needs of the people."