HOSPITAL staff have praised a new training course aimed at taking the load off doctors and nurses.

They are among the first to complete the two-year assistant practitioner foundation degree programme at the University of Central Lancashire.

The course gives health care assistants more skills to give qualified nurses and doctors more time to do other jobs.

Ten people who work at Royal Blackburn Hospital, Burnley General Hospital and Pendle Community Hospital took the course.

Diane Butler, who works in the fracture clinic at Royal Blackburn Hospital, said: "As part of the course, I was able to develop my skills in wound assessment and knowledge of dressings.

"Previously I would take off a patient's plaster but then have to ask a qualified nurse to dress the wound.

"Now I have the skills to do this myself, making the patient's experience much more streamlined. I really enjoyed the course and feel that it was very worthwhile."

Susan Clark, who works in the A&E department at Burnley General Hospital, said: "This is beneficial for patients as they don't have to wait as long for treatment."

Nick Hayes, head of human resources at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages the hospitals, said: "I am pleased that the trust has been able to take part in this new and exciting project.

"The creation of the assistant practitioner post enables us to improve the balance of skills in the workforce to provide the best quality of care for our patients.

"The staff completing the course have worked extremely hard to achieve this qualification and I would like to congratulate them on their achievement."