A GROUND-breaking scheme to provide hospital staff with 24-hour access to computers was launched yesterday.

A computer suite was opened at the University Hospital of North Durham, where night shift staff can use the futuristic-looking computer 'pods' to do their food shopping over the Internet, or study for further qualifications.

The initiative is part of the Government's Working Lives scheme, which means that all NHS employers are assessed and audited on improving the quality of the working lives of its staff.

Director of human resources at the hospital, Ian Palfreeman said: "Because of the nature of the hospital we have staff at work at all hours of the day and night, and we recognise that this can cause problems for things like shopping and banking.

"With the advent of the information superhighway, we felt it was important to give staff the chance to take advantage of that and help them to organise and run their personal lives, which helps to reduce their stress levels at work."

The computer suite is open to staff and consists of three ergonomically-designed computer pods, with touch screens, and four computers where staff can access the trust network and their company emails. The computers cost a total of about £25,000.

The facility is only open to staff, but IT training manager Leann Chivers said they hoped to open it to the public within a few years.

The hospital already has an IT suite, where staff are trained in using computers and is now hoping to help staff train for other qualifications by using the computer suite to become a Learn Direct Centre, where people can access on-line learning.

Angela Ballatti, chairman of County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, said: "I think different staff will find different benefits. So much information in the NHS is sent electronically, so we have to access that to stay up to date."