A GRATEFUL mum has nominated Great Harwood Health Centre near Blackburn for a top public service accolade.

For Karen Coupe, of Grimshaw Street, Great Harwood, and her young daughter, Sarah, have spent plenty of time at the health centre over the years.

And now Karen wants to say a big thank-you by officially putting the centre staff forward for a government Charter Mark award in recognition of the their help over the years.

Sarah, now eight, has been battling against illness all her life.

She has a rare combination of a hole in the heart and a malfunctioning kidney, which means she has needed frequent medical care.

Karen said: "All the staff there have been excellent. Everything about the service there is wonderful.

"I don't know what I would have done without their support.

"They've offered an exceptional service and they've been really helpful."

Mrs Lorraine Bracken is practice manager at the centre.

She said: "We're quite surprised we've been nominated but very pleased as we are only one of three organisations in Lancashire to have been nominated.

"The staff try very hard to provide a quality service. It is nice to receive recognition for hard work"

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.