Plans have been drawn up to open a school of nursing in Aberystwyth to help tackle a staffing crisis in mid Wales, the Cambrian News can reveal.

Student nurses could begin studying at Aberystwyth University in 2022, a stone’s throw away from Bronglais Hospital, and university chiefs said they hope the course could help provide staff for local health services.

Recruitment issues have plagued Hywel Dda health board, as well as the NHS nationally. So the possibility of nursing staff studying at Aberystwyth has raised hopes it could boost recruitment and offer opportunities for mid Wales residents who may not be able to travel for courses to study to become a nurse.

Members of the Mid Wales Joint Committee for Health and Care last week discussed plans for a ‘Mid Wales School of Nursing’, and heard that the university is working with organisations such as Health Education and Improvement Wales to decide the number of places the course could have.

Prof Neil Glasser, a pro vice chancellor at the university, told committee members that the university was keen to “diversify” and as well as offering the opportunity to provide a new course, having a nursing course taught at Aberystwyth could help provide local staff for health services in the area.

See this week’s Aberystwyth paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now