International hunt for nurses

Hospital bosses are flying out to the Philippines and across Europe to help fill nursing vacancies.

Pennine Acute NHS Trust says it has been forced to cast its net far and wide to find “high calibre” staff.

Despite local recruitment campaigns, the local NHS is struggling to fill vacancies. The trust, which runs Oldham Royal, North Manchester General, Fairfield in Bury, and Rochdale Infirmary, must fill 216 qualified nursing posts. There will be a recruitment open day in May to attract A&E nurses, as well as a large event for health care support workers in May or June.

Kimberley Salmon-Jamieson, deputy chief nurse at the Trust, said: “We currently have over 4,000 nurses and midwives across our four sites and in community services. We currently have 216 qualified nursing post vacancies.

“In the last six months we have held two successful events for newly-qualified nurses. Despite this we still have vacancies across our nursing workforce.”

Last time local NHS bosses held recruitment sessions in the Philippines several nurses were recruited and continue to be employed by local hospitals.