Progress being made on reducing doctors and nursing vacancies in local hospitals

Rachel Johnson Purdy is an advanced nurse practitioner at Rochdale Infirmary

The workforce at Northern Care Alliance NHS Group hospitals - Rochdale, Oldham, Bury, North Manchester and Salford - has been strengthened with 371 new doctors and 786 new qualified nurses starting work in the last year.

During the summer the Alliance held nurse recruitment open days at all of its hospital sites - 194 nurses and midwives attended the first event and 125 job offers were made.

Nicola Firth, director of nursing and acting chief officer at the Oldham Care Organisation said: “We have made significant progress over recent months in reducing vacancy rates.

"Later this year we will be welcoming around 70 newly qualified nurses.”

The Northern Care Alliance is made up of two Trusts - Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

It operates five hospitals and community services, Salford Royal, the Royal Oldham, Fairfield General in Bury, Rochdale Infirmary and North Manchester General.

Rachel Johnson Purdy is an advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) in the Urgent Care Centre at Rochdale Infirmary. 

Her journey into nursing started with her own experience as a patient’s family member. 

The care received from the nursing team inspired her, she said: “The support and opportunities to develop at the Northern Care Alliance are amazing.

"I’ve been so lucky and had some brilliant medical mentors throughout my time. 

"Through the support of the organisation, I’ve obtained my prescribing qualification, my first class (Honours) degree and my Masters, not bad for a girl who left school with nothing.

"You can do whatever you want to do as long as you’re determined to do it.”