A FORMER deputy headteacher is to head the new Bury Primary Care Trust (PCT).

Hilda Harvey, who lives in Holcombe Brook, will be the chairman of the new Trust when it is established this April.

The PCT will take over many of the functions of the present Bury and Rochdale Health Authority, as well as providing key community services which will transfer from the responsibility of Bury Healthcare NHS Trust, including district nursing and health visiting.

The PCT will employ around 650 staff and manage health centres, Bealey's Community Hospital, health promotion and health strategy development.

Mrs Harvey, who has lived in the Bury area all her life, has been involved in the health service for more than 32 years. She has been a member of the Bury General Hospital League of Friends, Bury Community Health Council, Bury Area Health Authority, Bury Family Practitioner Committee and Bury Family Health Service Authority (FHSA).

A qualified teacher, Mrs Harvey left education to set up her own small business as a bookseller/stationer.

She was appointed at national level to the Family Health Service Appeal Authority, but did not take up the appointment, choosing instead to remain in Bury on the board of the FHSA.

Since 1996, Mrs Harvey has been a non-executive director of Bury and Rochdale Health Authority. She has also been the health authority's convenor for the NHS complaints procedure since that time. Mrs Harvey became a member of the board of Bury North Primary Care Group in April 1999 and has been active in the preparation of the PCG's application for Trust status.

Currently a member of Radcliffe area board and the Radcliffe town centre committee, she is also a member of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's Advisory Committee on the appointment of Justices to the Bolton Bench.

Mrs Harvey said: "I am looking forward to taking a leading role in the establishment of a Primary Care Trust for Bury, which I see a major step for health improvement in the area. The organisation will plan and provide services for patients and be in a position to be more responsive to local and specific needs.

"GPs, nurses and their colleagues in the other healthcare professions will work in partnership with an excellent management team and local agencies to ensure that the people of Bury have access to the best possible healthcare provision.

"We wish to involve local residents in the planning and monitoring of the services which we will provide and to build strong partnerships that will improve the health of everyone in Bury."