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The unsigned memo sent to North Manchester Community Health Council claims the Charlestown Road hospital can no longer function safely since intensive care beds were removed last month.

It warns the bed closures - due to lack of specialist staff - will mean the accident and emergency unit will have to close down. This could mean casualties relying on facilities hundreds of miles away at Newcastle and Bristol in some cases.

The report warns it is now unsafe to continue to undertake major surgery, treat serious burns or accept children with potentially fatal illnesses such as meningitis which may require intensive care.

Trust bosses who run the hospital say three high dependency beds have been provided to replace the lost intensive care unit and that a 'maximum stay' intensive care bed is available which can be used for up to 12 hours.

Approval has just been received for four more high dependency beds and the trust will be recruiting nurses to staff them at a cost of ?528,000 a year.

Intensive care facilities are available at Pendlebury Children's Hospital in Salford which is run by the same hospital trust.

North Manchester Community Health Council meets on Thursday to discuss the memo and it is expected there will be further investigations into the claims in consultation with staff and trade unions.