INSIGHT: Staff in the paediatric directorate at hospitals in Blackburn were today celebrating after being awarded a Government Charter Mark. The accolade is a testament to the hard work of staff who face the daily stress of working with sick children. It is also a reward for a woman who has become the hospitals' parent representative - one of few such roles in the UK. But that is only a small chapter in the amazing life of Diane Bartley as Chief Reporter JASON HEAVEY found out.

EVERY time the phone rings Diane Bartley's pulse starts to race.

The foster mum knows that it could be another call for her to hold out her arms and open her home to a child whose parents have been unable to cope.

These appeals help make up for the almost routine heartbreak of seeing child after child fly the nest where she has nurtured more than 35 youngsters since her fostering career began 21 years ago.

Diane, 43, has three children of her own and it was while she was looking after identical twin sons Andrew and Paul that she became hooked on the idea of fostering for Lancashire County Council.

At first, she looked after healthy babies and children for just a few weeks at a time.

Then a 10-month-old baby girl arrived - and 15 years on she still shares Diane's neat detached home in Petre Crescent, Rishton. She has spina bifida and hydrocephalus (water on the brain) and is reliant on a wheelchair.

Diane then began to foster toddlers and children who had suffered "non-accidental injuries". There was the girl who had broken arms, fractured legs and a black eye and the baby who had been thrown around and badly bruised.

Then she took in a 10-month-old boy who had suffered harrowing injuries. He cannot be named for legal reasons and we are unable to reveal too many details of his horrific injuries.

But he is now nine and despite 10 operations attends a mainstream school in Blackburn. He shares Diane's home with a seven-year-old boy - the third foster child who has become a permanent member of the Bartley household.

He was a baby when he arrived at Diane's home and was born with a genetic heart defect. He has since suffered brain damage during a major operation and has autistic tendencies.

Diane's own children, who include 19-year-old Leanne, have accepted the foster children unconditionally

In fact, Leanne is fascinated by fostering and is taking a national diploma in childcare at Blackburn College, while Paul and Andrew, now 24, have recently told their mum that they never lacked any attention and affection during their own childhoods - despite the intensive attention that the foster children needed.

Diane also has had staunch support from husband Tony, who runs Rishton sheet metal firm T Chippendale.

So why does Diane do it?

"I need to be needed and I feel this need in me to do it. I also love babies and children," she said.

"When a child leaves me it can be upsetting, but also very rewarding if they go to adoptive parents or return to their own parents."

Fostering special needs children has naturally brought her into regular touch with hospitals and it was that contact with the medical world which led her to take up her voluntary role as parent representative of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust's paediatric directorate.

Her role has blossomed to a degree that she was chosen to represent the hospital for a visit to meet Prime Minister Tony Blair last autumn. Her role provides a link with any parent who is concerned with any aspect of their child's stay in hospital - which can be a harrowing time for mums and dads.

Diane added: "I felt that I wanted to give something back to the hospitals for all the good work they had done with my children." "Queen's Park has been really forward-thinking by creating the role and when I went to see Tony Blair I was the only parent rep there."

Her voluntary CV also includes membership of the University of Central Lancashire's Consumer Group, the adoption and fostering panel in Lancashire and Hyndburn-based charity Homestart.

There is a dire shortage of foster parents in Lancashire and Diane urged anybody interested to seriously consider it. Anybody interested should call 01200 425146 or 01282 425961.

Meanwhile, Diane is bracing herself to bid a tearful farewell to her latest foster child - a 10-month-old baby boy - who arrived before Christmas and is due to leave shortly .

"It has been lovely having a baby in the house again," said Diane.

His departure will doubtless bring more tears...but it will only be a matter of time before the telephone rings again.

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