The course looks at antibiotic-resistant diseases

Staff at hospitals across Kent are being encouraged to enrol on the course at Medway's University of Greenwich.

Senior lecturer Julie Bowden, who has developed the part-time course, is promising "benefits to patients and a contribution to public health".

Health workers say the course is a chance to receive sound education and to gain appropriate academic credits.

The course has been developed by the university and NHS infection control specialists.

A spokesman said it focused on infections that patients could pick up at home and in doctors' surgeries as well as in hospital.

Nurses on the course will learn how to teach patients to care for wounds at home, and keep the wounds free from infection.