KEELE University has been awarded almost £50,000 to help train healthcare professionals working with patients with learning disabilities.

The funding, from the Staffordshire and Shropshire Locality Board, will pay for a series of one-day workshops for up to 240 staff at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

People with learning disabilities and their parents will be among the experts delivering the workshops.

Dr Sue Read, project leader from the university's School of Nursing and Midwifery, said: "The workshops will promote best practice in terms of developing therapeutic relationships and communication with people with learning disabilities and their families and assist health care professionals to recognise factors affecting perceptions of individuals' quality of life."

After the workshop, health workers taking part will be evaluated by an expert panel.