IT has been officially announced that Darwen GP Dr Chris Clayton will head up Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) when health reforms come in next April.

The CCG will take on responsibility for planning and buying local health services, currently done by Primary Care Trusts.

Dr Clayton, whose practice, Darwen Healthcare, is based at Darwen Health Centre, has lead the CCG, which is working in shadow form, since it was first established in March 2011 in response to the government’s NHS reforms.

Dr Clayton said: “I am excited by the opportunity to help shape the health and wellbeing of our local population.

“And look forward to working with my CCG colleagues, other partners and members of the public to address some of the health challenges we face in Blackburn with Darwen.”