TWO primary care trusts joined forces with New College Durham to treat their employees to a "stress-relieving" pamper day.

More than 40 student beauty therapists from the college delivered treatments to nearly 150 employees. They included pharmacists, nurses, GPs and medical and administration staff from Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trusts. They were offered complementary therapies such as reflexology, Indian head massage, aromatherapy massage and Swedish massage.

Carol Hartman-Andersen organised the event with the college and is the manager of GP Choices, which provides a support service for primary care staff across County Durham and Darlington. She said: "The majority of staff attending the pamper day were more than keen for another such event to take place.

"It was a successful and well-organised day."

New College Durham beauty therapy course tutor Karina Moderate said that it was a valuable experience for all the students involved, and had helped to bridge the gap between complementary therapies and traditional medicine.

The students are studying NVQ Level two or three in beauty therapy, or a diploma in holistic therapy at the college.

The college is launching a complementary therapy foundation degree in September 2004 and is one of only three institutes across the North-East to do so.

The course has been devised in consultation with local medical centres and local employees involved in complementary therapies to ensure it meets the demands of the industry.

For further information, contact the New College Durham Helpdesk on 0191-375 4040.