Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP, Alasdair Allan, has today welcomed the news that nurse training in Stornoway is to be taken over by the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).

This follows the Nursing and Midwifery Council approving the transfer of the pre-registration nurse education programme for BSc mental health nursing and BSc adult nursing. The pre-registration courses are currently run by the University of Stirling.

Alasdair Allan commented: "It's very welcome news that, from next year onwards, UHI will be running these nursing courses.

"Since University status was awarded in 2011, UHI has played an important role in attempting to stop the outward flow of people from these islands by offering a range of courses that people would normally have to move to the mainland to study.

"This marks a further expansion of the role of UHI in the islands and I hope this results in an enhanced learning experience for nursing students."