PATIENTS’ champion Russ McLean has paid tribute to staff who deliver the out-of-hours GP service for East Lancashire.

East Lancashire Medical Services [ELMS] celebrated its 20th anniversary last week with the opening of a new conference room and training centre. Originally formed as a co-operative by local doctors in 1994, to organise a rota for overnight call-outs, the non-profit organisation has since moved into other areas of primary care, such as the Minor Injuries Unit in Rossendale.