A YEAR of events to celebrate 125 years of nursing education in the city came to an end with a debate about the future of the profession.

Industry experts gathered at Oxford Brookes University to make up a panel to discuss nursing's future while looking back on Oxford's 'vital role' in training thousands of nurses.

There was also a performance from the Oxford Brookes University Nursing and Midwifery Choir.

The University, in partnership with the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has been offering nursing degrees since 1989.

But it was 100 years earlier that formal nurse education began at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Woodstock Road.

Throughout 2016, the university has organised, lectures, exhibitions, reunions and even fun runs to mark the anniversary but the celebrations finally came to an end on Monday.

Head of the Department of Nursing at the university, Dr Liz Westcott, said: "It has been a fantastic year celebrating 125 years of nursing education in Oxford and I was delighted to end our celebrations with this exciting debate.

"We were fortunate to be joined by a number of influential nursing leaders from across the country and the patients associations, who all shared their insights and opinions on the future of nursing.

She added: "It was also wonderful to have support from the Nursing Times."

The panel included a number of key players in the world of nursing such as Dame Julie Moore, chief executive of University Hospitals Birmingham, Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association and Ros Alstead, director of nursing and clinical standards at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Professor Gary Rolfe from Swansea University and professor Laura Serrant from Sheffield Hallam University provided an academic perspective to the panel.

The debate was chaired by Jenni Middleton, the editor of the Nursing Times.

For the next generation of nurses keen to train in Oxford there are open evenings on December 13 and January 4 and the University's Marston Road site from 5pm to 7pm with places still available for September 2017 entry.