NURSING staff scored well when Wye Valley NHS Trust went into special measures.

Now, the trust needs more nurses it can call its own – and is sure they can be found close to home.

So next month, the trust launches one of its biggest recruitment events to tempt those nurses to the county’s hospitals.

The qualified, the leavers looking to come back, those wanting to re-gain registration...

It’s an Open Day as open what would be recruits can offer as much as what the trust can offer to them.

Successful candidates could be in work within weeks.

The trust needs to ease its reliance on agency and bank nurses and the cost they come at.

This month saw another increase in agency usage, primarily in the care closer to home and elective units.

Nurse bank usage was up by nearly 43 whole time equivalents.

Temporary staffing comprised 9.2 per cent of the trust’s total workforce over February, up from seven per cent in January.

Overall, the trust currently has 269 posts - or around 10 per cent of the work force - going through the recruitment process.

Recruitment issues with nursing posts are specifically felt in surgical and medical wards, the stroke unit, and theatres.

An EU and beyond recruitment programme has been active for some time.

Another 15 nurses are due to arrive from the Philippines in September.

The open day - at Hereford County Hospital from 10am-3pm on Saturday, April 18 – is focussed on those nurses who could be found across the trust’s own catchment.

On the day, there will be details of related benefit and education support packages, showcasing of specific roles, first hand sampling of ward life and one-to-one chats with nursing staff.

Maureen Bignell, director - people and development with the trust - said improved nursing care was a key stage on the “ ambitious journey” out of special measures.

Despite that special measures finding by the Care Quality Commission, nursing staff were described as “consistently demonstrating” a caring attitude and empathetic approach.

* Qualified nurses who would like to attend the open day event are invited to book a place by telephoning 01432 364038 or emailing: education@wvt.nhs.uk by April 15. For further information, visit the Trust’s website - www.wyevalley.nhs.uk