SPECIAL training is to be offered to people who look after patients with long-term serious illnesses in Darlington.

Up to £25,000 has been secured from the Workforce Development Federation for palliative care education across the County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority.

Free palliative care training courses will be made available to nursing and auxiliary staff working in independent nursing homes.

Nurse manager of Darlington's St Teresa's Hospice Elaine Isham said the course would look at issues like basic symptom control and bereavement.

It would also look at the needs of patients with a life-limiting illness and a non-cancer diagnosis.

"In Darlington, we are fortunate in having the most co-ordinated approach to palliative care there is with a seamless service involving the Primary Care Trust, the hospice, Marie Curie and Macmillan nurses," she said.

"But we need to get more involved with staff from the independent sector in order to improve the quality of care for all palliative care patients."

Staff have also been improving their training using a special workbook provided by the Cancer Care Alliance.

Support staff, volunteers, administrative, complementary therapy and commercial care staff have been using the training book to achieve an NVQ Level 1 in cancer care.

"The feedback has been very good and people really seem to enjoy it and ask us what they can do next," Mrs Isham said.