A team of specialist doctors and nurses will be on hand to help treat patients who become seriously ill at York District Hospital.

The critical care outreach team has now secured permanent government funding to provide assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The group is made up of seven doctors and nurses, including a nurse consultant, night sisters and an anaesthetist.

One of the sisters, Diane Hart, told BBC News Online: "As well as being excellent for patients and their families, it also good for ward staff to know there is support available."

Sharing skills

An initial grant to set up the scheme was awarded last year.

It has now been made permanent and the team want other members of staff to benefit from their training.

Ms Hart added: "We will be sharing our skills and want to develop the service further, mainly to help treat patients who could become seriously ill."

"We also provide back-up and look after patients who have been on critical care and are then discharged back to the wards."