West Suffolk Hospital boost
The wards at West Suffolk Hospital have been given a boost following a successful recruitment drive in Portugal which has seen 40 registered nurses offered jobs here.
The nurses will arrive in Suffolk in two cohorts, with the first starting their induction programme in early February and the second in March.
The new recruits will add to West Suffolk’s 1,000-strong nursing staff, 60% of which are registered nurses. They will work across all areas of the hospital and will be used
to replace bank and agency nurses, fill existing vacancies and help staff additional capacity in the hospital, which has been opened to manage winter pressures.
The nurses will work alongside West Suffolk’s newly qualified student nurses, all of whom have also been offered jobs.
Nichole Day, executive chief nurse at the hospital, said: “Like many other hospitals, we have found it difficult to recruit staff due to a shortage of registered nurses coming
through the system.
“We looked to Portugal instead and are delighted that our recruitment drive was such a success. We have recruited 40 very high calibre nurses with excellent communication skills and look forward to welcoming them onto our wards.
“In Portugal, nurses complete a four year degree course, with the final nine months spent working in an acute hospital. They have excellent care skills and particular expertise in the care of older people, which is ideal for the population we serve. They will also bring new ideas and new experiences to our wards.
“The nurses will be used to staff additional capacity which has been opened to cope with winter pressures. They will also help us fill existing vacancies while further reducing our spending on bank and agency staff.”
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Weather for Haverhill
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North
