A LIFE peer leading a national report into the education of nurses has visited Bradford to see the success of a training scheme in the district.

Lord Willis of Knaresborough was at The Ridge Medical Practice in Great Horton yesterday, which is one of five practices working together to offer post-graduate nurse training, undergraduate nurse placements and practice manager and receptionist training.

He spoke to staff and students and asked questions about how the project worked and its benefits.

Lord Wallis is the chairman of the Shape of Caring Review, led by Health Education England, which should ensure nurses and care assistants receive high quality education and training.

In Bradford and Airedale, the five practices, known as the Primary Care Education Group, are coordinating the Advanced Training Practices scheme.

The surgeries - Parklands, The Ridge, Sunnybank, Mayfield and Bowling Hall - are part of NHS Bradford Districts Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Staff say they are passionate about developing the role of practice nurses, providing hands-on training for students and encouraging more student nurses to work in GP surgeries.

Fiona Purdie, business manager at Parklands Medical Practice, said practice nurses played an increasingly key role in helping to care for patients with long-term conditions, such as diabetes, heart problems and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

"Practice nurses offer continuity of care for many patients who might otherwise need to see their GP more often or end up in hospital because their condition isn’t being well managed. Patients really value the time that nurses give them and the fact they are being cared for by highly skilled people who know all about their illness and how to control it," she said.

"We are very proud to be developing a new generation of practice nurses who can have varied and rewarding careers within primary care. Our trainers devote a lot of time to making the placements work and have a real sense of pride when some students choose to go into practice nursing."

Fifteen of the 41 practices in Bradford Districts CCG now take student nurse placements and it is hoped that more will follow.

The placements, set up with the support of the University of Bradford, are funded by Health Education Yorkshire and the Humber.