A DESPERATE shortage of volunteers is looming for the new panels being set up to protect patients' interests, a leading health official has warned.

Community health councils are being phased out over the next year and their responsibilities being transferred to three new organisations.

And chief officer with Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley CHC Nigel Robinson said finding volunteers to sit on the new bodies was going to be very difficult.

He said many CHCs had already lost members 'with the sword of Damocles hanging over them' because Patient Forums, very similar bodies to CHCs, are due to be introduced next year. And because these new panels will need more manpower the problem was about to get worse.

"In all, there will be five patient forums to cover East Lancashire and each will need 12 members. We're going to need 60 volunteers and I'm not sure we can find them," said Mr Robinson.

"Volunteers' time is precious and most people who do volunteer are already doing so for a number of different things."

Patient Forums are taking over most CHC functions and there will be one for each separate health trust in East Lancashire.

By next April, Mr Robinson said, there would be three primary care trusts -- one each for Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley with Pendle and Hyndburn and Ribble Valley -- Calderstones NHS Trust and East Lancashire Healthcare Trust.

Currently, there are a total of 48 volunteers on Burnley and Blackburn CHCs -- 24 from the voluntary sector and other 'lay volunteers' and 24 from local councils. Part of the plans to replace CHCs includes giving the role to scrutinise NHS trusts to local councils.

Mr Robinson said: "We're finding it hard at the moment to fill places on CHCs and that's with members from local councils. They won't be allowed to sit on the new Patient Forums so finding other people is going to be a real struggle."

Chief officer with Burnley CHC Helen Gee said it may be difficult to find the volunteers but the Government's plan was to get people involved who would not normally have an input.

"It will be a challenge but the plan is to get people that do not normally get the opportunity to speak on health issues such as young people or people who work full-time. I understand replacing two CHCs with five Patient Forums may be difficult but the challenge is to get these people involved."