150 nurses to be taken on at Sandwell Hospital
More than 150 nurses will be taken on at a Black Country hospital as bosses battle to get the number of vacancies down.
There were more than 200 nursing positions available at Sandwell Hospital in February as it faced a staffing crisis but roles are now beginning to be filled.
A recruitment drive has brought in much-needed reinforcements following a challenging winter at Sandwell General.
More than 150 vacancies will be filled by September, with the ranks to be bolstered by 72 students being offered roles.
Another 36 positions have been taken up as the trust took part in a successful jobs fair.
Staffing levels have been a real cause for concern with bosses at the trust which runs Sandwell General but they say they are pleased levels are heading towards where they need to be.
In February, there were 204 nursing vacancies at the trust, which also runs City Hospital, piling on the pressure during the winter when thousands were kept waiting more than four hours in A&E.
New student nurses are expected to begin work in September.
There will still be around 60 nursing vacancies and chiefs have said they will continue to try and bring in more workers.
Bosses have stressed the importance of giving staff reasons to stay with the Sandwell trust rather than moving elsewhere.
Chief nurse Elaine Newell told a trust board meeting that there needed to be 'career progression routes for talented staff' to ensure they remain with the trust.
Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust has failed to meet the national target of having 95 per cent of patients seen within four hours of coming to A&E for the last 18 months, with staffing shortages only adding to the pressure.
