Hospital patients in Wirral soon could be treated by apprentice nurses as the borough becomes a pilot area for a new "nursing associate" scheme.

The scheme was announced last November by health secretary Jeremy Hunt, who said student nurses can train on the job rather than having to complete a university degree.

Nationally the move could allow as many as 1,000 apprentice nurses to join the NHS annually and work alongside fully-qualified nurses.

Those who could become nursing apprentices include healthcare assistants or those already working towards nursing qualifications.

Forty-five nursing associates have been taken on across Cheshire and Wirral.

Six will work at Arrowe Park Hospital while another half-dozen will be based at Wirral Community Trust.

Cheshire and Wirral is one of only 11 pilot sites across England to pioneer the new role with, trainees starting in six NHS organisations across the region.

They will work alongside registered nurses and other healthcare staff in hospital wards and community settings while also receiving support and training from the University of Chester as part of a two-year course.

Once they have finished their training and placements, associates working in a range of clinical and community settings will bridge the gap between care assistants and registered nurses in a hands-on role that ensures patients receive compassionate, person-centred care.

Local mental health Trust Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) will host eight trainees and is also leading the project for the region.

CWP director of nursing and therapies Avril Devaney said: “This is the start of an exciting journey for a group of local people with healthcare experience, who have potential and a longing to work at a higher level than their current role allows. The new Nursing Associate role makes this possible.

“Our focus is on delivering person-centred care, ensuring people and their families who access services are treated in a way that allows their personal needs and preferences to be taken into consideration.”

Allison Reed, one of the new nursing associates, said: “It’s an honour to be part of the first cohort.

"This exciting new role has created a new pathway to help more people get into nursing, which can only be a good thing.

“I’ve had previous experience of working in both mental and physical health. Now I’m keen to develop my knowledge and transfer my skills so that I can deliver person-centred care.”

And former hospital porter Paul Stewart, from Greasby, said: “The support and encouragement from everyone has been fantastic. You can tell there is a real drive to make this new role a success.”

Launching the scheme last year the health secretary said statutory professional regulation will be required for the new nursing associate role under the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Allowing nursing associates to administer medicines “means that a stronger regime of assurance is necessary to ensure safe and effective clinical practice,” Mr Hunt said.

He added: “Nursing associates are not there to replace registered nurses but to support and complement them.

"Statutory professional regulation is a necessary and proportionate requirement for this important new role.”

Unison’s head of nursing Gail Adams said at the time: “Nursing associates shouldn’t be a substitute for registered nurses.

"Jeremy Hunt risks diluting the vital work of nurses in providing compassionate and dignified care to patients.”