5 December 2000

JOHN BOWIS JOINS SANE’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Former Minister for Health John Bowis OBE, has accepted the offer from SANE’s Chairman Ian Hay Davison to join the charity’s Board of Directors.

Mr Bowis said of his appointment: “Of all my responsibilities for health when in government and since, mental health is top of my priorities.

“There is so much to be done to improve the services of prevention, care, treatment and rehabilitation that we offer people with mental health needs. SANE and SANELINE have made and continue to make a forceful and effective contribution to this and I am very pleased to have been asked to join their Board."

SANE’s Chief Executive Marjorie Wallace said: “I am sure that John, a former policy advisor for SANE, will be a great asset to the future of the charity.”

John Bowis was Under Secretary of State for Health from May 1993 to July 1996, responsible for social services, mental health, disability, children and the elderly, and for drugs and alcohol.

Appointed MEP for London in summer 1999, John is the Conservative Party’s spokesman on the European Parliamentary Committee on Environment, Health and Consumer Affairs.

SANE was established to help meet the challenge of mental illness, by raising awareness and changing attitudes, providing care, and initiating medical research. SANELINE (0845 767 8000), is the only national out-of-hours telephone helpline to give practical information, crisis care and emotional support to people coping with mental illness. The charity receives about 1000 calls a week.

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