By Marjory Inglis, health reporter

THE THREAT to nurse education in Fife has been lifted— although part of the final year degree course will only be delivered in Dundee.

In a deal hammered out behind closed doors, Dundee University is to retain responsibility for nursing education in Fife, but is joining up with Adam Smith College to give nursing students access to the services and facilities of Scotland’s biggest further education college.

There was a public outcry when it emerged last year that Dundee University planned to transfer all nurse education to the Dundee campus by next September.

Many recruits to nurse training in Fife are mature students and the opportunity to learn at Dundee University’s satellite school of nursing in Kirkcaldy suited students’ family commitments and life circumstances.

But there was concern that these students were largely cut off from the wider university experience available on the main campus, and that was the reason promoted as justification for the university’s plans.

Tying up with Adam Smith College will give nursing students access to that institution’s facilities and give them the opportunity to mix with the large number of students there, satisfying the university’s desire to enhance the overall learning experience of its nursing students.

Previously it emerged that the proposal under discussion with Adam Smith College was expected to deliver the first two years of the theoretical component of the nursing degree in Kirkcaldy, with clinical placements continuing to be provided across Fife.

The theoretical side of training in the third year would be delivered in Dundee, amounting to one day a week.

The exact details of how the relationship with Adam Smith College and the university will work in practice has yet to be thrashed out, but a statement just released largely followed that pattern.

What is clear is that the campaign to retain nurse education in Fife has been a success.

Early today a formal joint statement, stressing a commitment to nurse education in Fife, was released on behalf of Dundee University, Adam Smith College, NHS Fife, Scotland’s chief nursing officer Paul Martin and NHS Education for Scotland.

That statement admitted that in order to “retain the approval” of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the nurse education programme must be delivered by registered nurse teachers who are employed and managed by Dundee University.

The statement listed the following “joint conclusions” of Dundee University, The Adam Smith College, NHS Fife, the Chief Nursing Officer and NHS Education for Scotland:

Dundee University will continue to provide nurse education in Fife.

Nursing students will continue to matriculate with Dundee University.

Registered nurse teachers who are employed and managed by Dundee University will deliver the nurse education programme.

In addition the statement gave a commitment that the university and The Adam Smith College would work together “to create, from next September, an enhanced learning context for nursing students in Fife.”