THE University of Bolton is in good health — after bosses hired 12 new 'visiting clinicians' to support medical studies in the town.

University chiefs have joined forces with Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group to make the appointments.

The university said it hopes the visiting clinicians will strengthen the reputation of its School of Health and Human Sciences as a "leading innovator in teaching and research".

The medics are specialists in areas such as neonatal care, paediatrics, gynaecology, diabetes, orthopaedics, health promotion, clinical governance, audiology and obstetrics.

The department already offers a degree in nursing in partnership with Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The university is the first in England to offer 50 student nursing places each year that are not commissioned by Health Education England, through a course developed to tackle the shortage of nurses both nationally and locally.

Steve Hodgson, Medical Director at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: "These posts will help cement the development of a close working relationship between the university and healthcare in Bolton.

"There are real opportunities for research and training. This will help make Bolton an attractive place to choose to work for clinical staff."

Jane Howarth, Head of the School of Health and Human Sciences at the university, said: "This collaboration is critical in order to train excellent health care professionals through enhanced clinical experience.

"The supervision provided by these senior clinicians will only enhance our growing research networks."

Dr Wirin Bhatiani chairman of Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group said: "The CCG is keen to explore joint working to ensure that we are training the appropriate staff to meet our current workforce crisis in the health arena.

"We are also keen to explore the role of our organisations in the health prevention agenda."