A GOVERNMENT junior minister took the opportunity yesterday to visit two nurse-led medical practices that have opened in the region.

Stephen Ladyman, Under Secretary of State for Community Care, travelled to the St Margaret's Health Centre, in Durham City, to the workings of the two innovative surgeries.

He was greeted by the chairwoman of Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust (PCT), Lady Ann Calman and the two lead nurse practitioners, Barbara Kolodziel, of the St Margaret's Practice, and Fiona Vallia, of the Castle Garth Practice.

As well as touring the premises, Dr Ladyman took the opportunity to talk to staff and PCT members and meet patients.

St Margaret's Practice provides services to patients who find it difficult to access a GP for various circumstances. The Castle Garth Practice offers services for older people in nursing and residential homes in the area.

Practitioners are experienced nurses who have followed a course of advanced study and who can order necessary investigations, refer to other health care providers and prescribe a variety of medications.

They are also charged with undertaking clinical management of people with diabetes, coronary heart disease, asthma and respiratory disease, as well as carrying out immunisations and vaccinations for children and holiday travellers.

The health centre, which was opened in March, also provides a base for a midwife, health visitor, district nurse, counsellors along with access to a number of specialist clinics.

Andrew Young, chief executive of Durham and Chester-le-Street PCT, said: "The visit also gave us the chance to showcase a number of other initiatives that the PCT and our partners have developed to help improve services for older people in the area - for example, the new Older People's Directory, Message in a Bottle scheme and the Durham and Chester-le-Street Handyvan Schemes.''