A HEALTH campaigner from Kington has been appointed a non-executive director of the trust which runs ambulance services in Hereford and Worcester.

Ms Christine Forester has started her new duties and will hold the position until October 2003.

She said it was an honour to be appointed to the trust. There were a lot of issues in the NHS of particular concern to people living in rural areas, the access to services being one of them.

The ambulance service did a good job ensuring this service and she hoped to play her part in seeing that it continued to provide effective and improving services throughout the area.

Ms Forester was actively involved in the Kington Hospital Action Group which fought to avoid the closure of the town's hospital - a campaign which has led to the development of an integrated health and social care facility for the area.

She has an extensive background in working in the voluntary sector, both in the UK and Europe.

In addition, she is head of consultancy for CAF Consultants, the consultancy division of the Charities Aid Foundation.

Ms Forester has held senior management posts in the voluntary sector in both the HIV/AIDS fields and in community development.

She has previous experience in serving with health authorities, being a former member of Southampton and South West Hampshire District Health Authority.

Ms. Forester lives in Kington with her husband.

She has one son who is studying in Bristol.