FORMER charge nurse Jim Heyes has been appointed chairman of the newly established Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust.

The trust becomes operational on April 1 and will include the community services currently provided by Burnley Health Care NHS Trust and the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Groups.

Mr Heyes is a former charge nurse at Burnley Health Care Trust having qualified in locally in general nursing and psychiatric nursing at Prestwich Hospital.

He later trained and worked as a probation officer before joining the prison service where he was employed for more than 20 years as an assistant prison governor and later as governor in charge.

His interest in health care was maintained by introducing the concept of 'well man' clinics in his prison, together with psychiatric treatment options for prisoners and a drug and alcohol misuse unit.

Mr Heyes said: "I am delighted to have been appointed chairman of the primary care trust. Our aim is to implement national policy in assessing need, planning and securing all health services and improving health in the three diverse communities within the trust area.

"The trust cannot do this in isolation however, and a major task and priority will be the involvement of patients and the wider public."

Mr Heyes, a lay member of the disciplinary and appeals committee of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, was recently appointed chairman of Burnley council's standards panel.

His appointment to the trust has a salary of £12,589 and he declared no political affiliation.