A experienced Chorley doctor has been named as the new medical director of a local hospice.

Dr Alison Parr of Whittle-le-Woods has taken up the role St Catherine’s Hospice where she hopes to develop services for patients and carers.

Dr Parr, 39, is married with three children and although born and brought up in Kent she has been living in the area since 1993.

She qualified in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1992 then spent a year working in oncology at the Christie hospital before becoming a specialist in palliative medicine.

She has been a consultant in Bolton for nearly seven years where her achievements included helping the hospice become a research facility and becoming chair of the Greater Manchester and Cheshire Supportive and Palliative Care Research Alliance.

She said: “I wasn’t actually looking for a new job but the opportunity to join the team at St Catherine’s arose and was too good to miss.

“I hope that this will be a long and productive relationship as we look to develop services for local patients and carers in the future.” St Catherine’s provides palliative care for patients in Chorley, Preston, South Ribble and Longridge.