FIVE local people have been picked to help make the decisions which will influence the healthcare of East Lancashire's 500,000 population.

Health Secretary Stephen Dorrell today announced the appointments of the non-executive members of the newly-formed East Lancashire Health Authority.

The new organisation will come into effect next Monday. The health authority will take on part of the work of the Lancashire Family Health Services Authority which governed the interests of GPs, dentists, opticians and pharmacists.

One surprise absentee from the list of new non-executives is former district health authority vice-chairman Mike Hindle. The non-executives are:

Dr Anne Huson: She is a Clitheroe GP who has been a partner in the Railway View Medical Practice since 1980, after qualifying in 1976. She has been a GP member of the Lancashire Family Health Services Authority, the district maternity liaison committee and is a member of the district diabetic working group.

Mr Janaid Qureshi: He is from Blackburn and head of international sales at Crown Berger, in Darwen. Mr Qureshi is the chairman of the Ethnic Minority Development Association and a board member of Blackburn College.

Mr Frank Chadwick: He was a member of the former Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Health Authority from 1989-1994. Before that, he was also a member of Burnley and district Community Health Council for 13 years. He is currently treasurer of Burnley's Brook Advisory Centre.

Miss Elizabeth Howarth: Lives in Rossendale and has a background in nursing, specialising in paediatrics and personnel management. She was a member of of the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Health Authority for more than 10 years.

Mrs Ann Jordan: She lives in the Ribble Valley, where she is a parish councillor. In addition to her work in the NHS, Ann sits on a number of independent tribunals dealing with mental health, disabilities and allied benefits. Before moving to Lancashire in 1978 she was a director of adult studies at the University of Kent.

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