PATIENTS and visitors to Blackburn's hospitals will have a pal to show them around and answer any queries they have, after management was given the go-ahead to launch its new PALS service ahead of most of the country.

The Patient Advice and Liaison Service, or PALS for short, will see two officers and a team of volunteers -- once they've been recruited -- on hand to deal with any problems, complaints or queries visitors have.

The Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust was given pathfinder status to set up the project, which will eventually go nationwide.

Elizabeth Matthews and Zubair Desai have been recruited to set up the service, which is one of the measures introduced by the Government to replace Community Health Councils, which are set to be abolished next year.

The officers will be able to offer information to parents, carers and families, deal with problems on the spot, act as an early warning system for trusts by monitoring problems and operate a network of advisers across the health service for patients to use.

But they need volunteers to support them if the system is going to be successful.

Elizabeth said: "We need to recruit volunteers to get the service properly up and running. Ideally, they would be outgoing people, who get on with others, although they don't need to have an interest in health. This post would particularly suit people going back into employment, such as women returners." Richard Gildert, director of nursing and quality, said: "We hope that the new service will be of great benefit to patients by providing a person they can turn to if they have a problem or need information about hospital and other NHS services.

"Situated in the main patient reception areas, the new PALS officers will provide an information point for patients as well as acting as facilitators dealing with patient and family concerns."

Volunteers will be based at the main reception in Queens Park Hospital and the Crossroads at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Duties include looking after the desks, answering the telephone, dealing with inquiries and directing patients to departments and clinics as required, providing information for patients and relatives, such as giving out leaflets, or signposting to advice agencies.

Volunteers must be good communicators, enjoy meeting people, be able to work as part of a team and willing to provide at least one half day per fortnight.

Full training, supervision and all out of pocket expenses will be provided.

For further information contact Elizabeth on 01254 293286 or 01254 294292.