A FORMER health manager has been chosen to be the new ‘voice’ of East Lancashire’s hospitals.

Anne Baron, an experienced voiceover actress who has also appeared as an extra in Hollyoaks, Coronation Street and Emmerdale, will now be heard by those calling the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General hospitals, instead of the existing on-hold music.

She was previously a clinical coder and health records manager at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, before retiring in 2006 to pursue her acting dream.

The trust receives more than a million calls each year, and bosses wanted a reassuring human voice to promote the trust’s values and services while callers were put on hold.

Jim Maguire, head of estates, said: “We received over 40 nominations so we faced a tough decision, but it was a unanimous choice for Anne to be our first Voice of the Trust.

“Anne’s voice is clear, reassuring and carries a lot of authority. We thank everyone who took part and aim to give other members of staff a chance in the future.”

He said Anne was selected after a ‘highly competitive selection process’ and recording studio sessions, and her first duty was to record a series of messages for the trust’s telephone systems, which have now begun broadcasting.

Anne also works as a volunteer administrator with the trust’s Diabetes Unit.