Family GPs and their staff are to benefit from a new scheme in Airedale that will provide them with regular training sessions.

Doctors, receptionists and nurses at practices in Keighley and Silsden will be able to undertake one day of training together on the second Thursday afternoon of every month.

The initiative has been introduced by Airedale Primary Care Trust (PCT), which is responsible for co-ordinating GP practices in an area that covers Keighley, Silsden, Burley, Addingham and Ilkley.

It says the idea is to provide staff with time they don't usually have in the course of a normal day to discuss key health issues and undertake training.

Dr Damian Riley, clinical governance leader for Airedale PCT, says: "To make sure we can maintain and improve the quality of health services provided in GP practices and by community nurses, we want to give staff regular protected time when they can train and develop together.

"The NHS plan published last year sets out how important it is for the NHS to make sure its staff have training and development opportunities so we can continue to improve the services patients receive."

Lyn Wilkinson, head of community services at the PCT, says: "The training will vary and will include events organised by Bradford Health Authority relating to national service framework issues, such as mental and coronary health.

"Staff will be able to meet together and decide what their training needs are and what sort of things they need to look at."

The scheme will run for an initial 12 months and will be reviewed at the end of the year.

While the training is carried out in Keighley and Silsden, medical cover will be provided at Ling House Medical Centre, Keighley, by a regular team of GPs and nurses.

Patients can access the service by contacting their own GP practice.