I HAVE just read an article in the BEN concerning the Royal Bolton Hospital and in particular an admission by the hospital that there were currently 126 full time nursing vacancies at the hospital.

In what areas and levels are these vacant posts? The personnel department had a list of less than eight when I inquired for my wife this week.

We have recently moved to Bolton and my wife has recently returned to nursing. She is currently employed by the NHS, but has had to resort to travelling to the other side of Manchester to work, because no suitable jobs are available in Bolton.

My wife's downfall is that she is married to a person who works shifts and has two school aged children. This fact means that she cannot undertake work that requires night shifts (internal rotation). I would suggest that she is not alone in being unable to take up one of the 126 full time posts and that many other (former) qualified nurses find themselves in a similar situation.

When my wife did her training, internal rotation had not reared its ugly head. The night shift was filled with people whose lifestyle was suited to it. Nursing was a profession whereby you could continue a career and bring up a family. Not any longer, it would appear.

If you need the posts filling, then try to find out why they are still vacant in the first place. It may have more to do with qualified people not being able to meet the shift requirements than low morale within the NHS.

I supply my name and address, but would ask that it be witheld to prevent any possible prejudice towards my wife's job prospects.

(Name and address supplied)

Richard Hornby 25 Holmebrook Drive Horwich.