ACTORS are being employed in a unique project to help train nurses in Blackburn's hospitals.

Patients are being urged to volunteer their experiences of hospital care and then their stories will be relayed to nurses in workshops through actors.

The patients' experiences, both good and bad, will then be discussed as the classes try to dissect what exactly goes to making for a happy stay in hospital.

The project has been developed by consultant nurse at Blackburn Royal Infirmary Brigid Reid - who is a fan of medical drama ER.

Brigid said: "In order to develop further the skills of all nurses, learning just how it feels to be a patient and what aspects of behaviour are to be encouraged or to be avoided, is very important.

"Words can convey experiences but experiencing real life situations can be even more powerful."

Brigid, a former assistant director of nursing in a Birmingham Hospital, said a similar approach has been used very effectively to train social workers, police officers and medical students but never before with nurses working in general hospitals.

She has already won a Nursing Standard award for the project, which 100 nurses will take part in this September and October.

Brigid said: "Out of all medical dramas, ER is the most convincing but the scripts are unconvincing.

"We want to reach the people of Blackburn and hear the reality of what they experience."

If it is successful, it could eventually be used to train staff across the hospital trust including those at Burnley General Hospital as well and interest has been expressed from several other trusts around the country.

The project is something her role as nurse consultant in general surgery, know popularly as 'supernurses', has allowed her develop.

Among other duties such as keeping an eye on cleanliness, it charges her with developing ideas to improve the day-to-day treatment of patients in her care.

Anyone offering to participate and tell their story as a patient would be guaranteed anonymity.

Brigid, who has been in nursing more than 20 years, said: "We feel that this project is an exciting way for the NHS to learn from the experiences of those who use it. We really hope people will come forward and share their experiences."

Kathleen Schooling, of the hospital's patient forum, said: "Most people leave hospital and either buy a thank you card and a small gift for the nurses or go around bad-mouthing the hospital for the treatment they received.

"Myself, I would rather come away feeling comfortable and satisfied. If we can achieve this we will go a long way to curing NHS' ills."

Anyone who would like to volunteer should contact Elizabeth Mathews at the PALS desk at Queen's Park Hospital on 01254 294200.