DARWEN Healthcare is taking on a number UCLan students to help with their training.

The second year physician associates will both spend six weeks at the James Street West Centre.

A Darwen Healthcare spokesman said the pair will help bridge the shortage of GPs in Lancashire.

Several other student nurses in years one, two and three from the Preston and Burnley-based university will be training at the surgery to gain experience in primary care.

The spokesman said: “Darwen Healthcare is incredibly proud to have been a training practice for a number of years and being involved in the training opportunities of the GPs of the future.

“We are excited to report that Natasha, our third student nurse has just finished

her first placement with the practice.

“We are delighted that we have been allocated two further student nurses commencing nine week placements with the practice.”

The centre’s medical receptionist, Gulnaz Patel, has started her training to become a healthcare assistant.

Sarah Whittle, the centre’s prescription clerk has taken up her new role as a prescription team administrator.

The surgery has also announced it has opened up a weekly clinic which takes place on Fridays.