A NEW face has taken over the team of 320 volunteers at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Mrs Sheila Barton, of Westhoughton, has been appointed project manager for the Womens Royal Voluntary Service at the hospital.

Sheila takes over from Mrs Ann Wood, who has been with the Bolton Hospitals WRVS team for 18 years.

Ann has now taken the post of WRVS Regional Hospitals Services Manager, covering 25 hospitals throughout the North-west, although she will still be based at Bolton.

Sheila is already a familiar face to many people in Bolton. As well as having been a voluntary WRVS welcomer in the eye unit at the Royal Bolton Hospital, she has also worked in several town centre shops and trained in office work at a GP practice in Westhoughton.

The WRVS at the Royal Bolton has five "welcoming" services and three shops at the hospital, and a number of coffee bar and trolley services.

All profits made from these ventures are donated to the hospital. Last year more than £150,000 was presented which included a £44,000 ultrasound scanner.

Barbara Peacock, chairman of Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We would all like to say how much we have valued Ann Wood's work here and wish her luck in her new position."

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