HOSPITAL bosses have boosted the ranks of two of their busiest medical teams. Despite a national shortage of consultants in both breast cancer and vascular surgery, Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust has been successful in recruiting staff to both departments. As already reported, Mr Richard Salem, one of the country's leading breast cancer surgeons, has left Bolton to take up a post in Edinburgh.

At a meeting of Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, Mr David Spurr, the medical director, said Bolton ought to be congratulated in attracting two national figures in the breast surgery world.

Mr Hugh Bishop is due to take up his post as Consultant Breast Surgeon in the General Surgery directorate in October this year and Mr John Winstanley, who will take up a second such post, has yet to give details of when he will start.

The team has further been boosted by the appointment of a consultant radiologist, who will work closely with the surgeons.

A second consultant vascular surgeon has also been appointed, which will relieve some of the pressures in this extremely busy department.

Mrs Barbara Peacock, Chairman of Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "I am particularly pleased about the appointment of a second consultant vascular surgeon, as the existing one has been under considerable pressure for some time now."

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