Primary care nurses are reportedly worried that their training and support networks will collapse when primary care trusts are abolished, reports Nursing Times.

Whilst a minority of PCTs have ring fenced their nurse education schemes, those in nurse manager jobs and similar roles are concerned that these will disappear even further.

"The focus will be on commissioning and not in the development of personnel," explained Bradford practice nurse Jan Proctor King. "Support, education and development won't be anybody's priority."

She continued: "My immediate concern is that as PCTs are faced with being reduced, the education facilitators and nurse leaders will lose their roles - people who support the new raft of practice nurses."

This comes after a white paper last month was published which said that GP consortia, which will replace PCTs from 2013, could look past local training and education for healthcare providers.

However, it was also reported today by Nursing Times that the Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust will be creating a new training scheme. Colin Ovington, nursing director, said he is planning a programme of leadership training at the trust. He is also planning to develop a nursing strategy that would make clear nurses' roles in the trust's safety and quality priorities in a bit to improve nurses' morale.

Speaking of the importance of such training schemes, Mr Ovington said: "This trust is desperately calling out for a nursing strategy to pull nurses back together and give them confidence. I hear stories every day that show morale is not what it should be, but I also find people who are really enthusiastic in the work that they do."