NHS commissioners have defended shelling out nearly £15,000 on ‘staff away days’ in the last two years.

In response to a Freedom of Information request, Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said it has held four away days in the ‘Legends Lounge’ at Ewood Park, costing a total of almost £10,000.

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It said each event was for 70-plus staff, and no suitable NHS facilities were viable.

Bosses said the events included ‘organisational development and planning sessions’ to educate staff and share best practice, and were also used for the delivery of mandatory training.

They added in a statement: “We have a duty to ensure that our members and staff’s knowledge is up-to-date and current, particularly in the areas of new legislation.

“Whenever possible NHS facilities and in-house trainers are utilised to hold these sessions. When bringing 70+ people together this is not always feasible.”

They described the spending as a ‘valid investment’.

East Lancashire CCG spent £4,700 on one event at Burnley FC shortly after its formation in 2013, with more than 100 staff members invited. Of the total spend, more about £3,400 went to Prospect Business Consulting, the rest on the venue.

It said the large training room at its headquarters in Nelson has a capacity of 60, and was not established at the time.

Bosses added in a statement: “The away day, which was about bringing the whole organisation together and updating all on plans moving forward, involved all staff and member practice reps in the planning.

“To do this the CCG needed a larger room which could accommodate the numbers particularly given the need to work in groups.”

Campaigner Russ McLean, chairman of the Pennine Lancashire Patient Voices Group, said: “In these times of austerity, patients would expect our CCGs to be frugal and to think carefully before spending public money.”