EIGHT people including a former Oxford Mail editor have been appointed to the board of Healthwatch Oxfordshire, the county’s official health and social care watchdog.

They will replace members who have stepped down or who are due to do so, including chairwoman Jean Nunn-Price.

Coming in as chairman on March 23 is marketing and public relations consultant and former Oxford Mail editor Eddie Duller, who retired from the Mail in 1994.

Paul Ader, Caroline King, Mia Van Manen, Jane Manley, Tracey Rees, Geraldine Shepard and George Smith will also join the 12-person board.

Mr Ader has worked on reforms at the Department of Health, while Dr Smith is a former science professor at Oxford University.

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Chief executive Rachel Coney said: “Current board members have demonstrated great commitment in giving the public a voice on local health and social care matters and calling for improvements that better match local needs.

“I would like to thank them for their dedication and passion. I am also delighted to welcome the individuals who are joining us and adding to our skills base.”

Healthwatch replaced Local Involvement Networks (LINks) on April 1, 2013, in England under a national shake-up.

But it started that August after Oxfordshire County Council delays finding an organisation to run it.

In June last year its first chairman Larry Sanders quit over a row with “hostile” and “unpleasant” board members.