Forty new nurses for Russell's Hall in £3.1m investment in staff
Forty extra nurses are being recruited to Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital as part of a £3.1million investment in staff.
It comes after a graduate training programme was also launched by Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS foundation Trust to help fill a shortage. It's hoped the scheme will be provide 100 nurses during the next few years.
As well as boosting nurse numbers, hospital bosses are hoping to reduce the need for expensive agency staff.
Hospital bosses have previously taken their recruitment drive overseas to help fill vacancies.
A recruitment open day for band 5 and band 6 nurses will take place on November 29.
Chief executive Paula Clark said: "To be a nurse at The Dudley Group is to be part of something special and that's why we need more amazing talented nurses to join our committed and dedicated staff.
"We've recently been investing in our nursing team and expanded our numbers with home-grown talent and some fabulous nurses from Europe. We are now opening our doors to tempt more nurses to come and join us.
"Our hospitals are among some of the most technologically advanced in the country; our buildings are modern and purpose-built, and we use state-of-the-art equipment.
"Those joining our trust will benefit from our strong reputation for leading the way in innovation and quality improvement as well as our excellent staff engagement events that put our staff at the centre of change."
See also: Revealed: £14m cost of agency staff at West Midlands hospitals.
Stourbridge MP Margot James, MP has welcomed the graduate trainee programme for nursing during questions in Parliament.
Dr Dan Poulter MP, of the Department of Health, commended the training programme, praising bosses for recognising that it was facing a shortage of nurses.
Ms James said: " The hospital's graduate programme has attracted 100 students, and will provide a long term source of trained nurses for the future. Front line staff at Russells Hall work incredibly hard, and I am very pleased that the government is recognising these improvements."
Visitors to the open day will have the chance to spend time with the nursing teams and to visit the departments where successful candidates could be working.
Anyone wishing to attend the open day should register their interest online on NHS Jobs by searching for Dudley Nurse Recruitment or reference number 253-A-14-5699.
