Tina, 43, and Katie, 23, from Featherstone, are joining district nursing teams across the country to celebrate the profession's landmark anniversary and raise awareness of the work they do in the community.

Tina, who works at Rycroft Heath Centre, in Havercroft, said: "It's an extremely rewarding job, knowing you're making a difference in people's lives.

"Every day is very busy and our role is really varied.

"We provide a wide range of care services, from changing simple dressings to disconnecting chemotherapy.

"We see people of all ages on a daily basis and you really get to know your patients because you are in their home."

District nurses provide care following operations, help with treatment to reduce the deterioration of long-term illnesses like diabetes and providing healthy living advice to patients and their families.

They offer care to patients in their own homes or community – helping to keep hospital admissions down – while ensuring patients can return home from hospital as soon as possible.

More than 8,500 people in the district see community nurses and the teams make 130,000 face-to-face visits every year.

Tina has been a community nurse for three years and her daughter Katie, who works at Pontefract Health Centre, has been in the profession for two years.

Tina said: "A good community nurse needs to be caring, conscientious, have good time-keeping and be a team player.

"I would definitely recommend it to anyone who thinks they might have the right skills.

"I love my job and Katie does too."

The profession first started in 1859 when Liverpool merchant and philanthropist William Rathbone employed nurse Mary Robinson to look after his wife at home.

Recognising the benefits, he set up a training school and home for nurses attached to the Royal Infirmary in Liverpool in 1860.

Each nurse looked after their own parish or district and the term "district nurse" was coined.

Their practice was supervised by lady superintendents drawn from wealthy families who were expected to cover the cost of the service and provide accommodation for the nurses.

Alison Bielby, chief of professional leadership and quality at NHS Wakefield District, said: "This is an excellent chance to celebrate the work of district nurses, as well as raising the profile of the work the teams do.

"District nursing staff play a crucial role in healthcare. They visit people in their own homes or in residential care homes, to provide care for patients and support family and carers.

"District nurses also have a teaching role, working with patients to help them to care for themselves or with family members and carers teaching them how to give care to their relatives."