HOSPITALS, mental health and community trusts are set to receive a multi-million pound boost to help recruit thousands more nurses.
Staff shortages have hit health trusts up and down the country, including Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust which runs both the Alexandra Hospital and Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
With the NHS continuing to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, bringing all routine services back online and preparing for winter, England’s chief nursing officer, Ruth May, has written to nurse leaders setting out support available to help accelerate recruitment.
The financial offer includes a £28m fund to support international nurses and midwives who are waiting to join the NHS front line.
“Thousands of nurses from across the globe had their plans to join the NHS derailed by coronavirus, but overseas nurses have now started to travel to the UK and take up positions in hospitals and other trusts,” said Ruth.
“This international recruitment fund will help NHS organisations pay for additional costs incurred because of coronavirus, including accommodation, flights and quarantine.”
The NHS’ workforce package sets out how a £1.7m fund has been made available to regional nursing teams to recruit health care support workers in NHS organisations with the highest vacancy rates.