A FORMER Burley-in-Wharfedale man has been elected as chairman of a prestigious medical

committee.

Dr Trevor Pickersgill is set to take over as the chairman of the British Medical Association's Junior Doctors' Committee.

Dr Pickersgill, now a specialist registrar in Neurology, in Wales, said he was delighted with the honour.

He said: "I intend to represent the UK's 35,000 junior doctors honourably and justly by ensuring that their views are listened to and represented fairly.

"One of my first tasks will be to invite the Secretary of State for Health and Health Ministers from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to a JDC meeting so they can hear first hand about the current issues facing the UK's junior doctors."

Dr Pickersgill, 32, who attended Burley First and Middle Schools, also said he would be getting his teeth straight into issues facing junior doctors, such as a new pay contract.

He said: "Making sure that the new contract is properly and fairly implemented and monitored is crucial to its success and will be a high priority for the JDC over the coming months.

"I will also continue to ensure that junior doctors' hours are reduced even further together with improvements in their working conditions."

Terry Pickersgill, Trevor's father, of Stirling Avenue, Burley-in-Wharfedale, said: "As his parents, we are both obviously very proud of the fact that he has been elected chairman and of the progress he has made in his career."