JOHN Gartside has been reappointed chairman of NHS Warrington with a yearly allowance of £34,152.

His new tenure will run until September 2014.

The PCT board must set strategy, monitor performance and ensure the interests of patients are fully represented and Mr Gartside is responsible for the effective running of the process.

A Freeman of the Borough, Mr Gartside was previously a senior director at Warrington Collegiate and leader of Warrington Borough Council from 1992 to 2002.

He is also a board member of the Big Lottery Fund.

Mr Gartside said: “I am delighted to be continuing my work with NHS Warrington.

“Challenging times lay ahead for us, but it’s important that as an organisation we do not lose focus of our core task of ensuring a safe, effective and efficient health care service.”