TWO learning disability nurses from Cumbria have fought off competition from hundreds of applicants to secure a place on a prestigious national course.

Becca Reid and Kirsty Rudd will both be joining the Florence Nightingale Foundation’s very first leadership programme for learning disability nurses.

Fully funded by Health Education England, places for the course - which is held in London - were highly sought after.

The Cumbrian women are two of only 40 nurses from across the UK to be offered a place.

Becca said: “I’m so excited, the selection process was very intense. I was one of 100 nurses selected for interview down in London. I have no idea how many more actually applied before that shortlist.

“Then to be one of the 40 selected is just incredible, I’m so grateful for this opportunity.

She added: “I’m especially excited because we get to work on an improvement programme that we can implement in our teams locally.

“Kirsty and I are both passionate about reducing readmission rates for patients with learning disabilities and we will be presenting our proposal in May.”

Kirsty also believes the course will bring benefits to Cumbrian patients.

“I was very eager to apply for the leadership course as I knew that the information I would learn would be invaluable to

improving my own skill set, meaning I could provide better care for my patients, as well

as being better prepared to support my colleagues,” she said.

“When I received the email to confirm I had been offered a place, without interview, I was incredibly excited. It was a real personal accomplishment.

“Many of our service users have difficulty communicating their needs, so it is essential that we are able to utilise our skills to better support our patients.

“Becca and myself are both

eager to enhance our patients’ lives and being able to work on an improvement programme that aims to do that, is a goal for us both.”

As part of the course, the nurses are working to keep those with learning disabilities out of hospital. Kirsty explained: “If we can make sure that there are strong support networks in place and we have taught those patients and their family or carers, to recognise when their health is deteriorating, then the goal would be to reduce the possibilities of readmission to hospital.”

The nurses travel to London once a week for the course. It runs until the middle of May.