Walsall Manor Hospital to get extra nurses in £1m plan

Almost £1 million is being invested in more nurses, health visitors and specialist hospital staff in Walsall, health bosses revealed today.

More than 25 new positions are being created by Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust over the coming months in a bid to improve patient care and services.

An expert kidney consultant and support service is to be introduced at Walsall Manor Hospital under £200,000 plans.

It will mean patients no longer have to travel to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton.

Up to £350,000 is earmarked as part of a health visitors recruitment drive. There will be five fully qualified health visitors and seven staff nurses to join the team.

It is on top of the £400,000 announced last month on bringing in 13 ward nurses, the second similar investment in a year.

The aim is to boost staff numbers in wards catering for the frail and elderly and also in A&E which will enable ward sisters to further concentrate on their management role.

The investment programme was approved by members of the trust board during a meeting at Walsall Manor Hospital yesterday.

It comes despite health chiefs having to save £11.4 million over the next year.