A man from Stoke-sub-Hamdon, has been appointed chairman of the new South Somerset Primary Care Trust (SSPCT), which will be responsible for community health care throughout the district.

Keith Pearson (pictured) has more than 30 years of experience in management and is currently also chairing the Yeovil Community Review of Transport.

SSPCT will take over the responsibility for community health services as well as that of funding hospital treatments and developing more services on April 1st.

Community healthcare is the sort of services delivered by GPs, health visitors, therapists etc. An example of a service that might be developed and made available is the removal of skin moles, which would save the patient a trip to hospital.

Mr Pearson's CV includes posts within the private healthcare sector in the UK and Asia.

Commenting on his new role he said he was delighted having been appointed, adding: "The reform and modernisation of the NHS aims to place patients at the centre of healthcare services. I wholeheartedly share this goal.

"PCTs are not only required to provide community health service but also fund hospital treatment and work to develop more services centred around your family doctor and community hospitals. It is just such services which people living in rural south Somerset need."

Mr Pearson is married and has a son, who works in Singapore.