The NHS university will play a key role in reforming the NHS

Alan Milburn

The new university will take advantage of modern technology to enable 'students' to take part in distance learning.

Training on subjects such as communication skills, ethics and assessment skills will be offered to everyone.

New skills

Nurses will be able to learn new skills to help to undertake procedures previously only done by doctors.

The reason that we have some of the dirtiest hospitals in Europe is not because of the interpersonal skills of the cleaners

Sandra Gidley

Doctors will be able to freshen up their clinical knowledge.

And some workers will be offered the chance to gain vocational qualifications for the first time.

The university will also encourage health professionals in different disciplines to share their skills and learn from each other.

Health Secretary Alan Milburn said: "The NHS university will play a key role in reforming the NHS.

"We will be able to ensure every member of staff gets the opportunity to make the most of their skills - helping them to smash through the glass ceiling which holds too many back."

Stunt

Dr Liam Fox, the Shadow Health Secretary, attacked the move as "just one more Labour health stunt".

He said: "Alan Milburn has now established himself as the government's chief stuntman. He will throw public money at any initiative that might generate publicity, irrespective of its impact on patient care."

Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman Sandra Gidley said: "There are some common sense ideas among today's announcements, such as more joint training between different health professionals.

"But this grandiose scheme does not address the fundamental problems of low pay and low morale.

"The reason that we have some of the dirtiest hospitals in Europe is not because of the interpersonal skills of the cleaners, as the Prime Minister appears to be suggesting.

"It is because the lowest-paid staff in the NHS are not offered enough money to keep them doing the job and doing it well."

The Department of Health does not have a definite starting date for the university, which will apply to England and Wales, but hopes it will be established within the "next couple of years".

Stephen Thornton, chief executive of the employers' organisation the NHS Confederation said: "We are very supportive of the concept of the NHS University.

"It is vitally important that NHS staff, whatever job they do, are given the training to develop their talents; are able to learn the techniques behind successful service redesign; and, are encouraged to provide good customer care to patients."

The next stage will be to appoint a chief executive, a spokeswoman said.